Marx's original theoretical contributions to Das Kapital

Purpose This paper expounds three theoretical contributions of Das Kapital from a new perspective. Design/methodology/approach First, Karl Marx’s scientific labor theory of value encompasses both abstract and concrete forms; second, the dialectics in Das Kapital serves not only as a methodology but as a theory, and the third is the organic structure of Das Kapital , hailed as “a triumph of German science”. Findings The organic structure of Marx’s Das Kapital is not only a remarkable achievement of German science but also a brilliant accomplishment of human science that is hard for future generations to surpass. It serves as an exemplar and illuminates the path and objectives for constructing a scientific system of political economy with Chinese characteristics. Originality/value These three theoretical contributions have practical guiding significance in the research on the socialist market economy and the construction of the socialist political economy system with Chinese characteristics.