唯物史观视域下“李约瑟难题”的时代审视

A Review on Needham Puzzle from Historical Materialism Perspective

“李约瑟难题”是中国科技发展史上的重要问题。从马克思主义唯物史观的视域论述古代社会生产力发展的“不需要”是现代科技难以产生和发展的根本原因,古代社会发展大系统的“不支持”是现代科技难以产生和发展的制度阻碍,古代科技人才的“不供给”导致现代科技产生和发展的主体缺位,古代中西方文明交流的“不开放”是现代科技难以产生和发展的外部因素。通过对“李约瑟难题”的解答,得出社会生产力发展的内在需求是促进科技发展的根本动力,社会制度是促进科技发展的平台保障,科学精神是促进科技发展的精神动力,开放的社会环境是促进科技发展的环境需要。

The Needham Puzzle is an important issue in the history of Chinese science and technolo gy.From the perspective of Marxist historical materialism,this paper states that lack of demand in devel oping productive forces in ancient society is the fundamental reason for the difficulty in developing mod ern science and technology.Lack of institutional support in the ancient society is the institutional barrier for the development of modern science and technology.Lacks of science and technology talent results in absence of subject in developing modern science and technology.And lack of exchanges between Chinese and a western civilization creates an external factor hindering the development of modern science and technology.To find out the solution to the Needham Puzzle,it is concluded that the internal demand for the development of social productive forces is the fundamental driving force to develop science and tech nology;the social system is the platform guarantee to promote the development of science and technology;the scientific spirit is the spiritual driving force to promote the development of science and technology,and an open social environment creates a favorable environment to promote the development of science and technology.