控制论思想在中国的早期传播(1929-1966年)

The Early Diffusion of Cybernetics in China (1929-1966)

控制论思想在中国的早期传播过程可分成3个阶段:维纳与中国学者李郁荣的合作(1929-1949年);控制论概念的传入(1949-1955年);《十二年规划》制定后,控制论在国内的研讨和发展(1956-1966年)。在统计、对比和分析历史材料的基础上,提出:控制论思想在新中国的传播过程体现了一种独特的科学传播模式--哲学先行,平行推动。在这种传播模式中,传播并不是始于吸纳具体的科学理论知识,而是始于辨明其背后的整体哲学涵义和应用意义。国内科学哲学界的学者从译介苏联的相关论文开始,后来发展到自主地进行大规模的研讨;工程理论界在钱学森及其创立的工程控制论的指引下培养了自己的研究队伍,理论上紧跟国际前沿并有自己的发展,应用上偏重自动化、航空和计算机的研究。这一传播历程为"文革"后迅速兴起的"三论(控制论、信息论、系统论)"的讨论热潮奠定了基础。最后,就控制论引发的科学传播与社会-文化因素之间的复杂互动关系进行分析和讨论。

This thesis illustrates the early diffusion of cybernetics in China. It is based on an analysis of three successive stages in history, namely, the cooperation between Norbert Wiener and Chinese scholar Li Yurong(1929-1949) , the acceptance of the concept of cybernetics in China (1949-1955) , and the discussion and further studies of cybernetics by scholars at home (1956-1966) since PRC's Twelve-Year Plan for the Development of Science and Technology was made. The focus is put on the rising and evolution of cybernetic studies in China between 1956-1966. Two substantive driving forces have contributed to the successful diffusion of cybernetics in China if philosophic problems of cybernetics are considered first; one came from introductions to the works concerning Russian references and translations, another came from Chinese researchers in the circle of engineering theory under the guidance of H. S. Tsien and his Engineering Cybernetics, especially in terms of automatization, aviation and computers studies. The thesis also attempts to prove that the early diffusion of cybernetics, which took place in a particular social-political circumstance in China in 1950-60s,had pared the way for the coming flourish in the studies on'Three Theories' ( cybernetics , information theory,and system theory)right after Cultural Revolution. Finally,for a better understanding of the diffusion of cybernetics in China, some thoughts on the relations among science, society, and politics are given.