Abstract: With the changes in the working modes and living conditions of the working class in developed capitalist countries, the argument of the “disappearance of the proletariat” has emerged and produced considerable influence in the academic circle. In order to respond to this argument, we must go back to the classic writings of Marxism, examine and restore the original meaning of the concept of “the proletariat” developed by Marx and Engels, and refer to the new changes in contemporary capitalist society to make a new interpretation of the concept of “the proletariat” that is in line with the characteristics of the times. “Being compelled by their lack of ownership of the means of production to sell their labor power to capitalists to earn a living” is the core feature of “the proletariat” described by Marx and Engels. In the modern world, the persistence of social groups of this profile demonstrates the continued strong explanatory power and applicability of the concept in contemporary times. It is worth noting that the new changes in contemporary capitalist society objectively constitute a challenge to Marx and Engels' conception of “the proletariat”. As modern Marxists, we should defend and develop the concept of “the proletariat” in the modern context, and make new provisions and interpretations of “the proletariat” on the premise of adhering to its rational core. Specifically, the scope of application of this concept should be expanded from the narrow sense of material production to the broad field of labor with much diversity, and the targeted group of the concept should be adjusted from the absolute poor to the relatively poor, thereby endowing this classic concept with stronger and broader explanatory power.

Key words: the proletariat, the theory of the “disappearance of the proletariat”, means of production, material production, labor

摘要： 随着发达资本主义国家中工人阶级劳动方式及生活条件的改变，“无产阶级消失论”的论调兴起并对学界产生重要影响。要对这一论调进行有针对性的回应，必须回到马克思主义经典著作中去，考察、还原马克思恩格斯语境中“无产阶级”概念的本来涵义，并结合当代资本主义社会的新变化，对“无产阶级”作出符合时代特征的新解释。“因不占有生产资料而被迫出卖劳动力为生”是马克思恩格斯笔下的“无产阶级”的核心特征。在现代世界，符合该特征的社会群体持续存在，证明了这一概念在当代仍有强大解释力和适用性。值得注意的是，当代资本主义社会的新变化客观上构成了对马克思恩格斯的无产阶级理论的挑战。作为现代马克思主义者，我们有必要在现代语境下对“无产阶级”概念予以捍卫和发展，在坚持其合理内核的前提下对“无产阶级”作出一些新的诠释。具体地说，应将这一概念的适用领域从狭义的物质生产领域扩展至广义的、具有丰富类型和多样性的劳动领域，将概念的适用群体从绝对贫困人群调整为相对贫困人群，从而使这一经典概念拥有更强大、更广泛的解释力。

关键词: 无产阶级, “无产阶级消失论”, 生产资料, 物质生产, 劳动