Abstract: Marx and Engels' profound insights into the issue of social character are embodied in the following aspects:Firstly,the social character in Marx and Engels' works is the characteristic system of the low-level social consciousness,and also the intermediate link and stage result of the transformation from the social consciousness to the superstructure.Secondly,the national character,class character and universal human personality form discussed by Marx and Engels constitute the threefold dimensions of their thoughts on social character and include the issue of social character in the broadest sense.Thirdly,Marx and Engels have studied the issue of social character from the nature of man,and their related thoughts have social,historical,practical and people-oriented purport of vital significance.

Key words: Marx, Engels, social character, human development