But the movement of knowledge does not end here. If the dialectical-materialist movement of knowledge were to stop at rational knowledge, only half the problem would be dealt with. And as far as Marxist philosophy is concerned, only the less important half at that. Marxist philosophy holds that the most important problem does not lie in understanding the laws of the objective world and thus being able to explain it,[3-340] but in applying the knowledge of these laws actively to change the world.[3-341] From the Marxist viewpoint, theory is important, and its importance is fully expressed in Lenin’s statement, “Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement”.[3-342] Each of man’s actions (practice) is guided by his thought (sixiang), so naturally without thought there can be no action whatsoever. But Marxism emphasizes the importance of theory precisely and only because it can guide action. If we have a correct theory but merely prate about it, pigeonhole it, and do not put it into practice, then that theory, however good, is of no use.[3-343]Knowledge begins with practice and theoretical knowledge is acquired through practice and must then return to practice. The active function of knowledge manifests itself not only in the active leap from perceptual to rational knowledge, but – and this is more important – it must manifest itself in the leap from rational knowledge to revolutionary practice. The knowledge which grasps the laws of the reality of the world, must be directed to the practice of changing the world, must be applied anew in the practice of production, in the practice of revolutionary class struggle and revolutionary national struggle and in the [p. 230] practice of scientific experiment. This is the process of testing and developing theory, the continuation of the whole process of cognition. The problem of whether theory or rational knowledge corresponds to objective reality is not, and cannot be, completely solved in the movement of knowledge from the perceptual to the rational, mentioned above. The only way to solve this problem completely is to redirect rational knowledge to social practice, apply theory to practice and see whether it can achieve the objectives one has in mind. Many theories of natural science are held to be true not only because they were so considered when they were discovered,[3-344]but because they have been verified in subsequent scientific practice. Similarly, Marxism[3-345] is held to be true not only because it was so considered when it was scientifically formulated by Marx and others[3-346] but because it has been verified in the subsequent practice of revolutionary class struggle.[3-347] Whether dialectical materialism is the truth or not depends on whether[3-348] it is impossible for anyone to escape from its domain in his practice. The practice of the history of[3-349] knowledge tells us that the truth of many theories is incomplete and that this incompleteness is remedied through the test of practice. Many theories are erroneous and it is through the test of practice that their errors are corrected. That is why “practice is the criterion of truth”[3-350] and why “the standpoint of practice is first and fundamental in the theory of knowledge”.[3-351]Stalin has well said, “Theory which departs from practice is empty theory, practice which departs from theory gropes in the dark”.[3-352]
