Compulsory 4: Key Philosophy Points for Memorization & Exam Answer Essentials (2026 Predicted Edition)

Compiled: May 31, 2026 ⭐ = High probability for 2026 exam (major questions not tested in recent years) ---

Analysis of Guangdong Province Philosophy Subjective Questions (Past 4 Years, Verified)

Year	Subjective Question Focus	Module
2022	Unity of Opposites in Contradictions (multiple-choice cartoon); specific subjective question focus unconfirmed	Materialist Dialectics
2023	Universality and Particularity of Contradictions	Materialist Dialectics
2024	Social History / Historical Materialism	Historical Materialism
2025	Value Judgment and Value Choice	Historical Materialism

Prediction: 2026 will most likely shift to Materialism or Epistemology (no major questions in these areas for four consecutive years) ---

⭐ I. Materialism (Highest Probability)

Principle 1: Dialectical Relationship between Matter and Consciousness

• Matter determines consciousness; consciousness is a reflection of matter
• Consciousness has a dynamic role in matter: correct consciousness promotes development, erroneous consciousness hinders development
• Methodology: Proceed from reality in everything; seek truth from facts; cultivate correct consciousness ### Principle 2: Dynamic Role of Consciousness
• Understanding the World: Conscious activity has purpose, selective perception, and creative initiative
• Transforming the World: Consciousness guides the transformation of the objective world (correct → promotes; erroneous → hinders)
• Methodology: Value the role of consciousness; cultivate correct ideology; overcome erroneous ideology ### Principle 3: Objectivity of Laws and Subjective Initiative
• Laws are objective, independent of human will; they cannot be created or destroyed
• Humans can understand and utilize laws, transforming the world according to the conditions and forms under which laws operate
• Methodology: Combine respect for objective laws with the exertion of subjective initiative ### Principle 4: Proceed from Reality in Everything; Seek Truth from Facts
• Respect the objective laws of material motion
• Fully exert subjective initiative
• Combine the exertion of subjective initiative with respect for objective laws ### Principle 4: Dialectical Relationship between the Whole and the Parts
• The whole occupies a dominant position, commands the parts, and possesses functions that the parts do not
• Parts influence the whole; critical parts can even play a decisive role in the whole
• Methodology: ① Establish a holistic view, base on the whole ② Value the parts, use the parts to advance the whole ### Principle 5: System Optimization Method
• System characteristics: Holism, Orderliness, Tendency towards internal structural optimization
• Methodology: Focus on the whole, follow order, emphasize optimization; understand things using a comprehensive thinking mode --- ## IV. Development View ### Principle 1: Universality of Development
• The world is in eternal development; the essence of development is progress and ascent, the emergence of new things and the demise of old things
• Methodology: View problems from a developmental perspective ### Principle 2: Unity of Progressiveness and Tortuousness
• The future of development is bright (new things will inevitably triumph over old things)
• The path of development is tortuous (requires a process)
• Methodology: Be both full of confidence and brave in facing setbacks and trials ### Principle 3: Dialectical Relationship between Quantitative and Qualitative Change
• Quantitative change is the necessary preparation for qualitative change
• Qualitative change is the inevitable result of quantitative change
• Qualitative change opens the way for new quantitative change
• Methodology: ① Emphasize the accumulation of quantity ② Seize the opportunity to promote qualitative change ③ Adhere to the principle of moderation --- ## V. Contradiction View (Tested consecutively in 2022-2023; multiple-choice questions may still appear) ### Principle 1: Identity and Struggle of Contradictions
• The two aspects of a contradiction are both opposite and unified, thereby driving the movement, change, and development of things
• Methodology: View problems with a one-divides-into-two perspective ### Principle 2: Universality of Contradictions
• Contradictions exist in everything and throughout every process
• Methodology: Dare to acknowledge contradictions, bravely face contradictions, and be adept at analyzing contradictions ### Principle 3: Particularity of Contradictions
• Different things have different contradictions; the same thing has different contradictions at different stages; the two aspects of the same contradiction also have particularities
• Methodology: Analyze specific problems in specific ways ### Principle 4: Dialectical Relationship between Universality and Particularity of Contradictions
• Universality resides in particularity; particularity contains universality
• The two can transform into each other under certain conditions
• Methodology: Adhere to the concrete and historical unity of generality and individuality (from the particular to the general, and then from the general to the particular) ### Principle 5: Primary and Secondary Contradictions
• The primary contradiction is in a dominant position and plays a decisive role in the development of things
• Secondary contradictions are in a subordinate position
• Methodology: Focus on the key points, concentrate efforts on resolving the primary contradiction; make overall plans, appropriately handle secondary contradictions ### Principle 6: Primary and Secondary Aspects of a Contradiction
• The primary aspect determines the nature of a thing
• The secondary aspect also influences the nature of a thing
• Methodology: Distinguish between the mainstream and the tributary, focus on grasping the primary aspect of the contradiction --- ## VI. Historical Materialism (Tested consecutively in 2024-2025; multiple-choice questions may still appear) ### Principle 1: Dialectical Relationship between Social Existence and Social Consciousness
• Social existence determines social consciousness
• Social consciousness has relative independence and exerts a counter-effect on social existence (advanced → promotes; backward → hinders)
• Methodology: Proceed from social existence; cultivate advanced social consciousness ### Principle 2: The People are the Creators of History
• The people are the creators of social material wealth
• The people are the creators of social spiritual wealth
• The people are the decisive force for social change
• Methodology: Adhere to the mass viewpoint and the mass line ### Principle 3: Guiding Role of Values
• Values have an important guiding role in people's activities of understanding and transforming the world
• Values are an important guide in life
• Methodology: Establish correct values, make correct value judgments and value choices ### Principle 4: Value Judgment and Value Choice
• Value judgments and value choices have social and historical characteristics (change with the times)
• Value judgments and value choices have subjectivity (vary from person to person)
• Correct standard: Consciously follow the objective laws of social development + Consciously stand on the side of the vast majority of the people
• Methodology: Take the interests of the people as the highest value standard --- ## Answer Mnemonics
  1. Materialism: What determines matter/consciousness → What is the dynamic role of consciousness → Can laws be changed → How to seek truth from facts
  2. Epistemology: Four characteristics of practice → Three characteristics of truth → Three characteristics of understanding
  3. Connection View: Universal → Objective → Diverse → Whole-Part → System
  4. Development View: Eternal development → Bright future, tortuous path → Quantitative and qualitative change
  5. Contradiction View: Identity and struggle → Universal and particular → Primary and secondary contradictions → Primary and secondary aspects
  6. Historical Materialism: Social existence determines → People create → Values guide → Value judgment standard 💡 Answer format for each principle: Principle Content (Worldview) + Methodology + Analysis with Material, all three are indispensable

• Oppose voluntarism that exaggerates the dynamic role of consciousness, and also oppose fatalism that one-sidedly emphasizes objective conditions --- ## ⭐ II. Epistemology (High Probability) ### Principle 1: Dialectical Relationship between Practice and Understanding
• Practice is the foundation of understanding:
  • Practice is the source of understanding
  • Practice is the driving force for the development of understanding
  • Practice is the sole criterion for testing the truth of understanding
  • Practice is the purpose of understanding
• Understanding has a counter-effect on practice: correct understanding promotes the development of practice, erroneous understanding hinders the development of practice
• Methodology: Adhere to the primacy of practice; value the guiding role of scientific theory ### Principle 2: Objectivity, Conditionality, and Concreteness of Truth
• Truth is objective (independent of human will)
• Truth is conditional (any truth has its applicable conditions and scope)
• Truth is concrete (any truth is relative to a specific process)
• Methodology: Adhere to the concrete and historical unity of the subjective and the objective, and of theory and practice ### Principle 3: Repetitiveness, Infinity, and Ascendancy of Understanding
• Repetitiveness: Due to limitations of subjective and objective conditions, correct understanding often requires repeated processes
• Infinity: The object of understanding is infinitely changing; understanding is infinitely developing
• Ascendancy: Understanding progresses in waves and spirals upward
• Methodology: Keep pace with the times, innovate boldly; discover and develop truth in practice, test and develop truth through practice --- ## III. Connection View ### Principle 1: Universality of Connections
• Things and the elements within things are interconnected
• Methodology: View problems from the perspective of connections; oppose the isolated viewpoint ### Principle 2: Objectivity of Connections
• Connections are inherent in things themselves, independent of human will
• Methodology: Grasp things from their inherent connections; avoid subjective arbitrariness; humans can establish new concrete connections based on inherent connections ### Principle 3: Diversity of Connections
• Connections are diverse (direct/indirect, internal/external, essential/non-essential, necessary/contingent)
• Methodology: Analyze specific problems based on specific time, place, and conditions