儒家文化与近代科学——“李约瑟之谜”再思考

Confucianism and Modern Science

近代自然科学为何没有在中国诞生,已经成为中国知识界在反思传统文化时必须面对的一个永恒话题。我们认为,解决这一问题的关键,是分析中国儒家文化的"基因"。儒家理论中有许多观念,影响传统中国人的思想、行为和生活。儒家的政治伦理学、社会分工理论、知识论、实践论对于近代自然科学产生了深远影响。在儒家哲学体系中,缺乏对自然现象的终极探索,缺乏对科学原理的系统总结,更谈不上对科学价值的阐扬,对科学发明、创新的奖进。因此,儒家观念对近代自然科学发展的推动是相当有限的。

Why wasnt modern science born in China has become an eternal topic of discussion among Chinese scholars whenever they reflect on traditional culture. The authors hold that the key to solving this question is to analyze the 'genes' of Chinese Confucianism. In Confucian theory, there are lots of ideas which have influenced the thought, behavior and life of Chinese people; it also includes the political moral philosophy, social division theory, knowledge theory and practice theory which have had profound impact on modern natural science. Confucian philosophical system is lacking in the ultimate investigating of natural phenomena, the systematic conclusion of scientific principles, let alone the promotion of scientific values and the award of scientific inventions and innovations. Therefore, the function that Confucianism drives the development of modern natural science is rather limited.