利玛窦科学传播功过新论

Some Issues on Evaluation of Matteo Ricci

在以利玛窦为代表的耶稣会士那里,相对于传教,传播科学具有一定的独立性以及自身的目的性。之所以利玛窦传播的基本上是近代以前的科学,并非其有意回避近代科学,而是具有多方面的客观原因;他所传播的尽管不是近代科学,但却具有明显的近代科学气质;以利玛窦为榜样,耶稣会士们为传播近代科学付出了巨大努力。利玛窦等传教士的科学传播活动,引发中国传统科学发生了一系列有利于奔向近代化的历史性转变:天文历法领域第谷体系占据主导地位;传统数学汇入近代数学主潮流;地理学初现近代化端倪等。在中国科学近代化曲折﹑漫长的道路上,明末清初西学东渐起到了扭转方向﹑扫除障碍﹑清理地基﹑准备条件的作用。其中,意大利精英利玛窦功莫大焉。

Matteo Ricci as a delegate in Jesuits,preaching and communicating science has some consistency.As to preaching,spreading science has some independence,have some independent and explicit purpose.Why he spread the medieval and ancient science has many aspects objective reasons,not to spread modern science is not Matteo Ricci＇s intention.What more,the science he spread is not modern science but has strong modern science qualities.After Matteo Ricci,Matteo Ricci as an example,Jesuits have made significant efforts on spreading modern science.Matteo Ricci and other missionaries＇ science communication activities caused traditional Chinese science having a series of historical changes which benefit for toward modernization.The field of astronomy and calendar systems was dominated by Tycho.;Traditional Chinese mathematics import the major trend of modern mathematics;the modernization of geography begin to take shape.On the long and winding road to modernization of Chinese modernization,Western learning has basic effects on guiding direction,removing the obstacles and ground,preparing the conditions during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties,elite Italian Matteo Ricci is ＂the first man for modernization of Chinese scientific foundation＂.