Critique and Transcendence: Young Marx’s Development of Hegel’s Theory of Civil Society

Hegel constructed his theory of civil society based on speculative logic and dialectical concepts, which can be summarized as the dual principles, three major elements, and a solution to the contradiction of civil society. After encountering the practical problem of material interests, the young Marx broke with the Young Hegelians and criticized Hegel’s theory of civil society. His criticism gradually shifted from philosophical and political criticism to political economic criticism. After deeply criticizing the logical starting point, development, and conclusion of Hegel’s theory of civil society, Marx established the materialist historical perspective as a research method, transcending Hegel’s research method; he redefined the concept of civil society from an economic perspective, transcending the previous definition of civil society; and he called for a proletarian revolution to achieve the return of humanity, transcending the previous approach to resolving the contradictions of civil society.