Disciplinary Construction

Disciplinary Construction

The academic lecture "Why Does Capital Intensify? — Capital from the Perspectives of Structuralism and Psychoanalysis" was successfully held at the School of Marxism.

Date:2024-05-09

On April 23, 2024, Professor Huang Wang from the School of Marxism at Southern Medical University was invited to deliver a captivating lecture titled "Why Does Capital Intensify? — *Capital* from the Perspectives of Structuralism and Psychoanalysis" for the faculty and students of Shenzhen University. The lecture was hosted by Professor Zhang Shoukui, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University, and was attended by many faculty members and students.

In the lecture, Professor Huang Wang first pointed out that commodities, as a unity of use value and value, represent the underlying logic of capitalism. He explained that the use value of a commodity is understood through the characteristics of labor products from a physiological and physical perspective, while value is grasped from the standpoint of social attributes, revealing the essence of the commodity. This approach, he noted, helps avoid the pitfalls of idealism and maintains the stance of historical materialism.

Professor Huang then delved into Capital from the perspective of structuralist psychoanalysis. He referenced scholars like Althusser, who studied Marx through a structuralist lens, and highlighted the importance of these studies in reshaping our understanding of *Capital*. He stressed that when interpreting *Capital*, it is crucial to understand the commodity as a unity of use value and value, with value's social attributes at its core.

Throughout the lecture, Professor Huang also shared his thoughts on using structuralist psychoanalysis as a theoretical tool to reinterpret Capital. He argued that this theoretical resource helps us better comprehend the logic of capital, revealing the inherent contradictions and problems of capitalist society. However, he also cautioned the audience to approach these theoretical resources with care and a critical mindset, avoiding one-sided or extreme interpretations.

At the conclusion of the lecture, Professor Zhang Shoukui expressed his gratitude to Professor Huang Wang for his insightful presentation and delivered a closing summary. He remarked that it was a lecture rich in content and highly thought-provoking. The lecture was politically grounded, logically rigorous, and offered unique perspectives, enhancing the professional knowledge of both faculty and students while fostering a positive academic environment. The lecture concluded successfully amidst a lively atmosphere of discussion.