The law of mutual transformation of quality, also known as "the law of quantitative change and qualitative change" and "the law of transformation from quantitative change to qualitative change", is a universal law of the development of nature, society and thinking, and is also one of the three basic laws of materialist dialectics. It reveals the inner connection and mutual transformation between quantitative change and qualitative change in the development process of things, and reflects the unity of gradualness and leap in the development of things.

The germ of ancient thought

modern theoretical development

Marxist scientific interpretation

Meaning and essence: Quality is the inherent determination of one thing that becomes itself and is different from another thing. It is the essential attribute of things, which determines their uniqueness and difference. For example, the quality of water is determined by its molecular structure and chemical properties, which distinguish it from other substances.

qualitative characteristics

Meaning and expression: Quantity is the stipulation that the scale, degree, speed of things, and the arrangement and combination of constituent elements in space can be expressed in terms of quantity. For example, the size of objects, the speed of movement, the number and arrangement of molecules, the development level and speed of productivity, etc., are all the stipulations and manifestations of the quantity of things.

Quantity characteristics

Definition and function: Degree is the unity of substance and quantity of things, and it is the quantitative limit, range or amplitude of things to maintain their own quality. It is a state in which quality and quantity are combined and stipulated by each other, and it is the key for things to maintain their own stability.

The relationship between joint points and qualitative changes: The boundaries between the two ends of the degree of things are called joint points or critical points. When the quantity of something changes within the range of degree, the thing will not undergo qualitative change; but once the quantity changes beyond the range of degree, the thing will undergo qualitative change and form a new qualitative thing.

Meaning and performance: Quantitative change is the increase or decrease in the quantity of things and the change in the order of the constituent elements. It is an insignificant change that maintains the relative stability of the quality of things, and reflects the continuity of the gradual development process of things. Specific manifestations are diverse, including increases or decreases in quantity, such as the growth of population, growth of trees, etc.; they also include structural changes, such as changes in the arrangement and combination of atoms in chemical substances, adjustments to the organizational structure of team members, etc.

The accumulation of quantitative change: Quantitative change is a gradual accumulation process that requires time and continuous advancement of the process. Every small quantitative change accumulates conditions for the occurrence of qualitative change. Only when the quantitative change reaches a certain level will qualitative change occur. For example, if you insist on learning a little knowledge every day, your knowledge reserve will make a qualitative leap if accumulated over a long period of time.

Meaning and performance: Qualitative change is a fundamental change in the nature of things. It is a leap from one qualitative state to another. It embodies the gradual process of development of things and the interruption of continuity. The manifestation of qualitative change varies depending on the nature of the thing and the field it is in. It may be a change in material form, such as ice turning into water, or water turning into steam; it may also be a change in social system, such as from feudal society to capitalism. Society; it may also be a change in thinking concepts, such as from a traditional way of thinking to an innovative way of thinking.

Breakthrough of qualitative change: Quality change is the fundamental breakthrough of the original thing, and it is a new state and nature. It breaks the original balance and stability, so that things have entered a new stage of development.

In the overall process of quantitative change, there are stages and local partial qualitative changes: in the development process of things, they are generally in the stage of quantitative change, but partial qualitative changes may occur in certain parts or stages. This partial qualitative change is an intermediate state in the development process of things, which creates conditions for the fundamental qualitative change of things. For example, a person's growth process from childhood to adulthood is an overall quantitative process. However, during this process, he will go through different stages such as childhood, adolescence, and youth. Each stage has its own unique characteristics and qualitative characteristics. change.

In the process of qualitative change, there is also the quantitative contraction of the old quality and the quantitative expansion of the new quality: after the qualitative change occurs, the new quality does not completely replace the old quality all at once, but there is a gradual replacement process. In this process, the old quality will gradually decrease and the new quality will gradually increase. This is the quantitative change in the process of qualitative change. For example, in a social revolution, after a new social system is established, the remnants of the old social system will still exist for a period of time. As the new system continues to consolidate and develop, the influence of the old system will gradually disappear.

Guidance on understanding and handling problems: When understanding things, we must grasp the principle of moderation, pay attention to changes in the quantity of things, and avoid excess or deficiency. For example, when educating children, appropriate education and guidance must be given according to the child's age and physical and mental development characteristics, without excessive pressure or laissez-faire.

Grasp the development process of things: We must be good at observing the quantitative change trends of things. When the quantitative changes accumulate to a certain extent, we must seize the opportunity in time and promote the development of things in a favorable direction. For example, in economic development, industrial upgrading and transformation must be carried out in a timely manner according to market demand and the development status of enterprises to achieve sustainable development of enterprises.

Application in social development: Social development is also a process of mutual transformation of quality. Social reform is a partial qualitative change, which adjusts and improves certain aspects of society while keeping the basic social system unchanged, and promotes the continuous progress of society; social revolution is a drastic form of qualitative change, achieving Fundamental changes in social systems.