Interview: Xi's understanding of Marxism a light on path toward ecological civilization -- U.S. philosopher

A noted U.S. philosopher has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks on updated Marxism, saying Xi's understanding of Marxism is a light on the path toward a new global ecological civilization.

Philip Clayton was commenting on Xi's speech about the importance of adhering to and innovating Marxism at a philosophy and social sciences symposium in Beijing on Tuesday.

"He stressed that the birth of Marxism is a great event in human intellectual history, and noted the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture. These two themes coincide with the Organic Marxism theory," Clayton told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday.

In Clayton's book "Organic Marxism: An Alternative to Capitalism and Ecological Catastrophe" published in 2014, he wrote, "Capitalism as a social and economic system has created massive injustices and has devastated the global environment... Only a Marxism built on organic principles will be able to respond productively to these demands for new political theories and new roles for governments in an era of environmental catastrophe."

"President Xi did not interpret Marxism as a timeless truth, but called innovation the eternal theme of philosophy and social sciences, and also of social development," Clayton told Xinhua.

Based on English philosopher Alfred North Whitehead's Process Philosophy theory, Clayton's Organic Marxism focuses on the evolving process of Marxism and its organic integration with the needs of specific cities, countries or cultures.

"The basic principles of Marxism have to evolve to fit the concrete realities of today's China. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is not the same as the German Marxism of the 19th century," he said.

Paying much attention to China's social developments in the past 20 years, Clayton called himself "a China watcher."

"President Xi also noted the complementary relationship between Marxism and Chinese traditional culture resources," he said. "The Chinese people have developed a deep cultural tradition over thousands of years of thought and practice. This accumulated knowledge is a wise guide to help Chinese leaders with developing socialist policies that suit China's unique situation."

He also said that an updated Marxism is indispensable for building an ecological civilization, which requires a social, economic and political philosophy that places the common good of humanity and of the planet above all else. "We predict that the principles of Organic Marxism will play an increasingly important role," he said.

Clayton criticized the growing inequalities in U.S. society and damages profit-driven corporations have caused to the environment. "In America, the protesting voices against these inequities grow louder," he said.

"China is the largest nation in the world defined by its Constitution as a Marxist state. President Xi is calling for a Marxism that evolves to address the unique challenges facing China," he said, adding that the developments Xi is calling for would serve as a strong guide to the school of Organic Marxism. Endit