悟道与逻辑、气与原子——李约瑟之谜与中西文化之别

Tao and Logic,Chi and Atom——the Needham Puzzle and the Differences between Chinese and Western Culture

哲学是科学之父,科学都以一定的哲学思想为基础。现代科学体系源于西方古典哲学,因此了解中西古典哲学思想有助于回答李约瑟之谜。古希腊文化是西方科学传统的较早源头。以定义、公理、假设为基础的逻辑思想和探究物质本质与结构的原子论,都促进了西方科学的发展。然而"气"所反映的非粒子性和整体性以及中国悟道思想所基于的实践性,则阻碍了科学进入实验阶段。

Philosophy is the father of science, and science is based on certain philosophical ideas. Modern scientific system originates from western classical philosophy, so understanding Chinese and Western classical philosophy is helpful to answer the Needham Puzzle. Ancient Greek culture is the early source of western scientific tradition. Both logical thought based on definition, axiom and hypothesis and atomic theory to explore the essence and structure of matter have promoted the development of western science. However, the non-particle nature and wholeness reflected by Chi, as well as the practicality, on which the ancient Chinese thought of Tao was based, all prevented science from entering the experimental stage.