Abstract: The major concern of The Condition of the Working Class in England is the realization of the spiritual liberation of workers in the study of the spiritual poverty of the working class. For a period of time， the academic circles have not explored enough the theme of the spiritual poverty of the working class elucidated in the text， and have not been able to elaborate Engels’ views on this issue in the organic integration of text and thought， history and reality， theory and practice. To understand Engels’ views on this issue， we should not only clarify the theoretical logic of Engels’ narration from the perspective of textual philology， but also explain its profound historical logic with the research method of historical genetics. Examining this issue will help to enhance the overall understanding of Engels’ cultural thoughts， draw experience in the process of studying workers’ spiritual poverty， and provide reference for the improvement of people’s material life and spiritual life. In this sense， Engels’ thinking based on the problems of the times and the characteristics of national conditions still has important ideological value today.

Key words: Engels, the working class, spiritual poverty, The Condition of the Working Class in England, common prosperity