严复论科学不能疏离人文之域

Yan Fu’s Discussion About the Relationship Between Science and Humanities

严复是系统引介实证主义的第一人。实证主义与科学主义有着内在的关联,严复同样极力宣扬科学的价值,直言中国救亡,"将舍是而不可"。但严复并没有循此走上极端的科学主义,而是认识到科学有其限度,主张科学不能疏离人文之域。这一观点超越了和他同时代乃至五四时期很多人的科学观。严复科学与人文不可"一甚一亡"的思想对当下科学文化建设亦不乏启示意义。

Yan Fu is the first person who introduce the positivism to Chinese.Positivism has an intrinsic connection with scientism.Yan Fu vigorously promotes the value of science.He said:"Without science,it is impossible to save China".However,Yan Fu did not follow the extreme scientism,and realized that science has its limits.He advocates that science cannot alienate the domain of humanities.His view transcends the scientific view of many people during his contemporaries and even during the period of the May Fourth Movement.Yan Fu thinks that science and humanity cannot be"one over-developed and the other is dying".His thoughts still have enlightenment for the current construction of science and culture.