Mao Zedong On Dialectical Materialism полностью

The contradictory aspects in every process[4-569]are in opposition to each other, are in mutual disharmony, unequal in strength, at odds with one another, and in dispute; all are replete with such hostile phenomena. Without exception they are contained in all processes, phenomena, things, and thought.[4-570] A simple process contains only a single pair of opposites (yuanjia),[4-571] while a complex process contains two or more. And in turn, the pairs of opposites are in contradiction to one another. That is how all processes, phenomena, and things[4-572] are constituted and set in motion.

This being so, there is an utter lack of identity or unity. How then can one speak of identity or unity? In this do the strangeness and wonder of the world find themselves.

The fact is that no contradictory aspect can exist in isolation. Without its opposite aspect, each loses the condition for its existence. Just think, can any one contradictory aspect of a thing or of a concept in the human mind exist independently? It cannot. Without life, there would be no death; without death, there would be no life. Without “above”, there would be no “below”; without “below”, there would be no “above”. Without misfortune, there would be no good fortune; without good fortune, there would be no misfortune. Without facility, there would be no difficulty; without difficulty, there would be no facility.[4-573]Without the bourgeoisie, there would be no proletariat; without the proletariat, there would be no bourgeoisie. Without colonies, there would be no imperialist oppression; without imperialist oppression, there would be no colonies.[4-574] It is so with the opposition of both sides in all processes, phenomena, and things; in given conditions, on the one hand they are opposed to each other, and on the other they are interconnected, interpenetrating, interpermeating, interdependent, and in alliance – both in contradiction and in union – and this character is described as identity. In given conditions, all contradictions[4-575] possess the character of non-identity and hence are described as being in contradiction. But they also possess the character of identity and hence are interconnected. This is what Lenin means when he says that dialectics studies how there can be identity.[4-576] This is the first meaning of identity.