中西两种科学文化背景下的郑和下西洋和地理大发现之比较

Differences of Zhen He's Travel to the West from the Great Geographical Discovery in Background of Chinese and Western Scientific Culture

本文从科学文化的角度对郑和下西洋和地理大发现进行了比较研究,探讨了两者在科学探索动机、地理知识和造船航海技术诸方面的差异及其由此产生的不同影响,认为尽管郑和航海在规模、航路和航海技术等实用科学层面上远远领先于西方,但在科学探索动机、科学精神和理论知识背景等科学文化层面上却大大逊色于西方,两种科学文化背景的差异是导致中西航海活动不同结局的深层原因。

This text carries on comparative research about Zhen He's trave to the West and the great geographical discovery,and probes into the differences in motive of science explorations,geographical knowledge,shipbuilding technology and navigation technology of the two and different influences produced from them.We believe that although Zhen He's navigation was far more advanced than that of the West on practical science aspects like scale,route,navigation technology,etc.it was inferior to the West greatly on science and culture aspects like motive of science explorations,scientific spirit,theoretical knowledge,etc.The difference of the science culture background is a deep reason which causes different final results of Chinese and Western navigation activities.