The social sciences also need a ten-year plan.
The social sciences have fallen behind; this time no plan was drawn up.
A certain amount of investment should also be directed toward the social sciences.
There used to be a journal called “Research Bulletin on Dialectics of Nature,” which was discontinued for a long period but has now been revived.
It’s good that it has been revived.
The second issue has already been published.


We must possess both a revolutionary spirit and a rigorous scientific attitude.
We must fight and win the battle for science and technology.
In the past, our struggle was focused on the superstructure—establishing the people’s government and the people’s army.
What was the purpose of building this superstructure? It was to engage in production.
The aim of constructing the superstructure and transforming the relations of production was to liberate the productive forces.
Now that the relations of production have been transformed, we must raise the level of productivity.
Without developing science and technology, it is impossible to increase productivity.


Scientific research includes both practical and theoretical components.
We need to strengthen theoretical research and assign dedicated personnel to it; neglecting theory is unacceptable.
We should cultivate a contingent of individuals who understand theory, and such talent can be developed from among workers and peasants as well.
We ourselves ought to acquire some knowledge of natural science theories, particularly in fields like medicine and biology.
As for “death ray” [2], we should organize a team of specialists to study it exclusively.
We need a small group whose sole task is to devote themselves to this research, without engaging in any other work.
It does not matter if no immediate results are achieved.


On the military front, apart from offensive weapons, we must also pay attention to research on defensive measures. Perhaps in future conflicts our main focus will be on defense.
When it comes to offensive weaponry, we cannot compete with other countries in terms of sheer numbers of atomic bombs.
Throughout history, warfare has always required a combination of offense and defense; fortifications and underground tunnels are forms of defense.
The Great Wall built by Qin Shi Huang [3] was not very effective.
We are preparing to undertake some rather impractical projects, such as constructing underground factories and subways, step by step over several years.


The scientific experiments referred to in the Three Great Revolutions primarily pertain to the natural sciences.
Research in the social sciences cannot entirely rely on experimental methods.
For example, political economy cannot be studied through experimentation; instead, an abstract approach must be employed, as Marx explained in Capital [4]. Concepts such as commodities, war, and dialectics can only be distilled into theoretical generalizations after observing countless phenomena.


Printed based on the transcript of the conversation preserved in the Central Archives.


Notes:  [1] This is an excerpt of Chairman Mao Zedong’s interjection during a report by Vice Premier of the State Council and Director of the State Science and Technology Commission, Nie Rongzhen, on the Ten-Year Plan for Science and Technology.  [2] “Death ray” refers to the laser.  [3] Qin Shi Huang, whose personal name was Ying Zheng (259–210 BCE), was the founder of the Qin Dynasty.  [4] See the preface to the first edition of Marx’s Capital, published in 1867. The original passage reads: “In analyzing economic forms, neither the microscope nor chemical reagents will serve my purpose. The instrument of analysis must be replaced by the power of abstraction.” (Selected Works of Marx and Engels, Vol. 2, People’s Publishing House, 1995 edition, p. 99)