晚清新教传教士科学译介的宗教动因

Religious Causes of Scientific Translation of Protestant Missionaries

基于对《基督教新教传教士在华名录》所收录的新教传教士中文著作的文献计量,发现:开埠前,新教传教士并未明显表现出译介自然科学的兴趣,仅有的译介旨在破除作为传教障碍的华夷观念,并因此集中于地理学;开埠后,传教策略进一步丰富,对自然科学的译介除了试图进一步打破华夷观念,还成为通过自然神学来传播新教理念、通过展示功用性而培植信念的途径。新教传教士自然科学译介的宗教动因与"默顿论题"存在契合点,但也因传教士的身份而有其独特之处。

According to a bihliometric analysis on the Memorials of Protestant Missionaries to the Chinese, it could be observed that, before the opening of ports, Protestant Missionaries didn＇t represent obvious interest in translating science. Their rare scientific translations aimed to break the notion of Hun ~ yi which hindered their missionary careers therefore concentrated on geography. After that, missionary strategies had been extended. Translating science was regarded as an approach to not only eliminating the notion of Hun - yi but also cultivating Protestant ideas and beliefs, respectively by introducing nat- ural theology and demonstrating utilities of nature sciences. These religious causes of scientific translation of Protestant Missionaries were partly coherent with the ＂Melton Thesis＂. Nevertheless, it also represented unique characters because of the identity of Protestant Missionaries.