从数学创新审视中国古代数学的发展

On the Development of Mathematics in Ancient China in Terms of Mathematical Innovations

著名数学史难题 :“近代数学为什么没有在中国产生而在西方建立”,是“李约瑟难题”的子问题 ,近 30年来 ,海内外学者在解释这一数学史难题时 ,提出了各种观点 ,但细究起来不难发现 ,很多观点均存在着不完备性 ;这个问题确实需要再研讨 ,即使没有共识 ,也会给人们许多启迪。

As a famous puzzle in the history of mathematics, “Why modern mathematics was founded in the West instead of China” is a sub item of Dr. Joseph Needham's Puzzle. During the past 30 years, a lot of different viewpoints were put forward by scholars both inside and outside China. However, closer examinations reveal that none of them was unbiased. So, continuous discussion is needed regarding this problem. When consensus seems difficult to be reached, more insights and enlightement would be beneficial to everybody. From the angle of mathematical innovation, the article attempts exploring the root cause for the standstill in the mathematical development in ancient China.