Commentary Requesting the Central Publicity Department to Discuss the Dogmatic Attitude Toward Soviet Science (April 18, 1956)

Comrade Zhang Jichun [1]: This document [2] is worthy of attention. Please have the Central Publicity Department convene a discussion on this issue. In the course of the discussion, invite leading comrades from the Academy of Sciences and other relevant organs to participate. Upon Comrade Lu Dingyi’s return [3], please show him this document. Mao Zedong April 18

Based on the manuscript for publication. Notes [1] Zhang Jichun was at that time Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Committee’s Publicity Department.

[2] Refers to a summary of remarks made on March 3 by Haagel, Head of the Central Propaganda Department of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, as excerpted in a report prepared on March 14, 1956, by Kang Sheng, a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau. Haagel stated that past dogmatic errors had primarily manifested themselves in an excessive emphasis on the advanced experience and scientific achievements of the Soviet Union. For example, we propagated the doctrine of the Soviet agronomist Lysenko as entirely correct, thereby completely discrediting Rudolf Virchow, a highly authoritative figure in German science, and dismissing all of Gregor Mendel, the Austrian geneticist, as reactionary—despite the fact that the vast majority of biologists in Germany adhered to Mendelian principles. Science may embrace various schools of thought; we believe that given sufficient time, this diversity can ultimately lead those genuinely engaged in scientific research toward a materialist perspective. We should learn from the strengths of Soviet science, but we must not treat every statement issued by the Soviet scientific community as sacrosanct. Haagel further noted that, in philosophy as well,