李大釗在對中外各種社會形態理論學習和比較的過程中,逐步走進馬克思主義唯物史觀,并將其運用于"觀察國家命運"、動員社會主義革命。確立馬克思主義信仰后,李大釗在開展史學理論研究和教育時,集中介紹和評判西方史學思想中的社會形態理論,借此宣傳馬克思主義的唯物史觀和階級斗爭學說,論證社會主義革命的必然性。在此過程中,李大釗的社會形態觀也得到進一步豐富和發展。理清李大釗社會形態觀和唯物史觀形成及運用的交錯并進的發展過程,有助于深化對馬克思主義在中國早期傳播史的認識。

In studying and comparing various kinds of Chinese and foreign theories of social form, Li Dazhao gradually learned the Marxist historical materialism and used it to observe the fate of China and stage Socialist revolution. Believing in Marxism, Li Dazhao introduced and evaluating western theories of social form in historical study and teaching. His purpose was to disseminate the Marxist historical materialism and the theory of class struggle, as well as to demonstrating the inevitability of Socialist revolution. Li Dazhao’s theory of social form had further developed during this period. A research on his theory of social form and historical materialism and the relationship between them is helpful for a better understanding of the early transmission of Marxism in China.