基础与应用之辩:李政道与杨振宁对中国科技战略的不同观点及现实意义

Debates on the Basic and the Application:Different Opinions of Lee Tsung-Dao and Yang Chen Ning on Chinese Science and Technology Strategy

本文分析了改革开放以来,李政道和杨振宁对中国科技发展战略的不同观点和建议。李政道针对"文革"对基础研究的否定以及改革开放后功利主义的盛行,极力主张中国要重视基础科学研究,支持中国建设高能加速器;杨振宁针对中国科技和工业落后的现实状况,极力主张中国要更加重视应用科学研究以满足国家建设的急需,并反对中国建设高能加速器。在如何看待李、杨观点相左这一问题上,不能陷入非此即彼的窠臼,非要评判二者孰优孰劣、谁对谁错。二人的观点都很深刻,都有理有据,只是他们看问题的角度不同。李、杨二人观点相左,对于中国科技发展而言,反而是好事。不同观点的碰撞,能让中国领导人听到不同的声音,进而能让中国的科技战略决策更加理性、务实、周全。

Lee Tsung-Dao and Yang Chen Ning have different opinions in China’s S&T strategy since the reform and opening-up.Lee strongly suggests that the basic scientific research should be emphasized in China,and he is for the speeding up of the national construction.Considering the reality of the backwardness of science and technology and industry in China,Yang strongly suggests that China should pay more attention to the application of scientific research so as to meet the needs of the national construction instead of accelerating the national construction.On this conflict between their opinions,it is not good to judge who is of advantage and who is of disadvantage,or who is right and who is wrong,since both opinions are profound and rational,just different due to being viewed from different angles.It is good to the development of science and technology in China if the leaders in China are able to hear such debates,which would help to make a more rational,practical and thoughtful decision for the science and technology strategy.