"The weapon of criticism cannot replace the criticism of weapons" is a famous saying of Marx and Engels. It means that it is not enough to criticize with words, and practical actions must be taken. ?

Marx wrote in the Introduction to Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right: "Of course, the weapon of criticism cannot replace the criticism of weapons, and material power can only be destroyed by material power; But once the theory grasps the masses, it will also become a material force. As long as the theory convinces people, it can grasp the masses; As long as the theory is thorough, it can convince people. The so-called thoroughness is to grasp the root of things. But the root of man is man himself. "

The philosophical thought embodied in this famous saying is the relationship between theory and practice. "The weapon of criticism can't replace the criticism of weapons" means that "theory can't replace practice". The weapon of criticism is the criticism of theory and Marxism's criticism of capitalist theory. The criticism of weapons is a criticism of reality and a criticism of capitalist society by the socialist revolution.

Extended information

Marx wrote the manuscript Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right from the middle of March to the end of September in 1843, and made a comprehensive analysis of the part of Hegel's Principles of Philosophy of Right that expounded the national issues, especially made a profound criticism of Hegel's idealistic views on the relationship between the state and civil society.

Marx revealed the essence of the German bourgeoisie's national philosophy and legal philosophy in maintaining the existing system in Germany, pointed out that this philosophy was most systematically expressed in Hegel's works, discussed the relationship between the criticism of Hegel's legal philosophy and the criticism of German real society, and put forward the revolutionary task of "firing at the German system".

This paper expounds the historical mission of the proletariat, points out that the proletariat is the only class that can eliminate any slavery and realize human liberation, and discusses the relationship between the proletariat and philosophy, pointing out that "philosophy regards the proletariat as its own material weapon, and similarly, the proletariat regards philosophy as its own spiritual weapon".

References: Baidu Encyclopedia-Criticism of Hegel's Philosophy of Right (Criticism of Hegel's Philosophy of Right)