清代君主集权政治对科学技术的影响

The Effect of Ching Dynasty Autocratic Monarchy on Science and Technology

十五世纪以前,中国的古代科学技术曾长期保持过西方所望尘莫及的水平。然而到了近代,却越来越落在西方的后面。冰冻三尺,非一日之寒。造成中国近代科学技术落后的渊源可能很深远,但关键时期却在明清两代。尤其清代,中西差距日益扩大,落后局面最终形成。问题和矛盾暴露得比较充分,便于我们从中探讨和总结出一些带规律性的东西。在限制中国近代科学技术产生和发展的各种社会因素中,清代君主集权的封建专制主义政治是个关键的因素。正像恩格斯阐述政治对经济的反作用时所指出的“

This paper analyzes the conditions of development of science and technique in the pre-Opium war Ching dynasty, discusses the imperial court monopoly of some branches of science and technique by the feudal rulers in order to consolidate their ruling power, thereby aiding in the development of these branches of science to some extent. Once the feudal rule was consolidated, however, they turned around to impose strict restrictions on science, blocking and strangling its development and thus becoming the main stumbling block to the progress of science and technology.