Rethinking the Question of “the Termination of Philosophy” —Based on the Text of Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy

Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy (hereafter referred to as the work), a classic text of Marxist philosophy, centers on two core themes: the fundamental question of philosophy and the question of the termination of philosophy. On the basis of systematically sorting out relevant theoretical debates in academia, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the “termination of philosophy” from four dimensions. First, it carries out semantic analysis and essential definition of the term “termination”, clarifies the translation controversies over the original German word Ausgang, and identifies its core connotation as the sublation and paradigm shift between the traditional speculative old philosophy and the Marxist practical new philosophy. Second, it defines the theoretical orientation and boundary of “the termination”, confirming that the object of “the termination” in Engels’ context refers to the purely speculative traditional philosophical system represented by Hegel. Third, it explores the genealogical connection between Feuerbach’s philosophy and classical German philosophy, verifying that Feuerbach’s philosophy is not a component of classical German philosophy nor its representative figure. Fourth, it explores the theoretical limitations of Marx and Engels’ proposition on the “termination” of the old philosophy, as well as the historical trend and practice-based, reality-oriented development paradigm of philosophy after this “termination”. By clarifying core concepts and theoretical disputes, this paper deepens the understanding of the essence of the Marxist philosophical revolution. And it provides important theoretical resources and methodological enlightenment for resolving the speculative predicament of contemporary philosophy and promoting philosophy’s involvement in practical reality.