道教物理学思想略析

On the Physics of Taoism

对道教典籍中内蕴的物理学思想进行了钩沉,并就其特征做了分析。认为道教物理学思想是道门中人在探索自然万物之理的活动中形成,其内容广泛,涉及古代物理学的宇宙论、力、光、电、热学等领域,具有零星的科学思想火花和专门化的科学思想论述并存的形式特点。道教物理学思想十分零散和质朴,散见在道教典籍和其他一些古籍中,尚未形成系统化的理论。

This paper explores the physics of Taoism and analyses its characteristics. It holds that the physics in Taoism is developed in the course of exploring the nature of the universe and involves many areas of ancient physics such as theory of the universe, mechanics, optics, electricity and thermology. Its simple and fragmental ideas concerning the physics of Taoism can be easily seen in the Taoist classics and other ancient texts, though they are not systematic enough to form a sound theory.