意象思维与中国古代“科学”——兼论杨振宁对“李约瑟问题”的解答

Imagery Thinking and Ancient Chinese "Science" :On Yang Zhenning’s Explanation to Joseph Needham’s Problem

“意象”是理解我国古代思维的基础,它为解决传统古代科学与李约瑟问题提供了可对话的理论平台,无论是杨振宁所谓的“归纳法”或“演绎法”均需置于意象思维的视野之下,这构成考量中西科学思维方法比较的必要前提。从“意象”的思维角度来看,中国古代物理事物之间的关系表现为一种关联关系,这不完全同于西方近代自然科学所理解的“因果性”观念,我们只有通过对“意象”与“概念”双重逻辑的揭示,并在其形上自然观的关照下,才能进一步理解“意象”思维与中国古代科学的关系问题。

As the basis for understanding ancient Chinese scientific thinking,"Imagery"provides a theoretical platform for dialogue between traditional ancient science and Joseph Needham.Whether it is Yang Zhenning's so-called"inductive method"or"deductive method"needs to be placed in the realm of imagery.From the perspective of thinking,this constitutes a necessary precondition for considering the comparison of Chinese and Western scientific thinking methods.From the perspective of"imagery",the relationship between ancient Chinese physical things is expressed as a kind of correlation,which is not exactly the same as the concept of"causality"understood by Western natural sciences.Only by revealing the dual logic of"imagery"and"concept"and their metaphysical view of nature,can we further understand the relationship between the"imagery"thinking and ancient Chinese science.