耶稣会士安多(1644～1709)书信中的科学史资料（英文）

The Correspondence of Antoine Thomas,SJ( 1644-1709)as a Source for the History of Science

安多——南怀仁钦天监职务的继任者——留下了大量未发表的书信。本文从科学史的视角探讨这批通信资料,涉及以下问题:安多在欧洲(杜埃、科因布拉)参与的数学课程;教科书《数学纲要》(Synopsis Mathematica,Douai,1685)的编纂;参考过哪些西文著作;安多在北京与巴黎的院士建立起较为系统的学术联系;编写中文代数著作的经过;其他教学资料的编纂。安多的职务,主要面向康熙皇帝和钦天监官员。回答咨询时,他坚持采用"自然"现象解释气象问题,反对中国的"迷信"说法。大地测量知识也在测量经度单位长度的活动中派上用场;擅长制造、操作新型科学仪器,从其"天文罗盘"可见一斑。安多数学才华甚高,深谙教学原理,在向中国介绍西方科学方面扮演了重要角色。

Antoine Thomas--successor of Ferdinand Verbiest in the Peking Astronomical Bu- reau-left behind an extensive, unpublished correspondence, also interesting for the history of sci- ences. Among the topics： his mathematical curriculum in Europe （Douai-Coimbra） ; the progress of his textbook Synopsis Mathematica; his European reference books; his role in creating--in Peking-- more systematic contacts with Paris academicians; the progress of his Chinese work on algebra; his composition of other texts of a didactical import. His main target public was the Kangxi Emperor and the officials of the Astronomical Bureau. He was consulted in matters meteorologic, defending a pure- ly ＂natural＂ explanation against Chinese superstitions. His competences in geodetics were also ap- plied when measuring an ＂earth＇s degree＂. Some talents in the fabrication and manipulation of （new） mathematical instruments are manifest with regard, among others, to a ＂pyxis astronomiea＂（astronom- ical compass）. From this, he appears as a genuine mathematical talent, with sound didactical princi- ples, who was very instrumental in the introduction of Western science in China.