System science is one of the achievements of human civilization, which has a long history and developed scientific ideas in the west. Not only natural sciences such as physics and astronomy, but also developed mathematical thinking, which promote and confirm each other. One of the characteristics of science is abstraction, which strengthens an important attribute of natural things, such as weight, mass and movement. Ancient science was brought into philosophy, such as Demok Park Jung Su's atomism, which recognized the naturalness of things and made science begin.
In the history of our country, nature does not seem to exist. Confucianism stresses ethics, legalists stress criminal law governance, Taoism is close to nature and has a rough understanding of nature, and Taoism is natural. However, it mainly talks about nature from the perspective of cultivating students and preparing for ascension, and has no utilitarian purpose, serving the emperor or escaping from the emperor, so it is difficult to be scientific. Nature can only be romance, six rains and lightning, secular desires, a scene in the fog, and January in the clouds. Nature has never existed objectively. Although there are logical schools, such as the saying that Gong Sunlong's white horse is not a horse, it just disappeared in the long river of history in an instant. Science, that is, the study of the rationality of things, exists occasionally, but it does not exist most of the time, and the rational cognition of things or substances is also stagnant. However, due to the backwardness of production, the mathematical laws have not been perfected.
Nature has never entered the field of vision of China people on a large scale, so it is impossible to produce modern science. The purpose of Taoist alchemy is only to serve health, and occasionally gunpowder is found and ignored. Nature is also the object of an affair, which contains feelings, and no one directly explores nature. Xu Xiake has travel notes, which only record his style and land features. Most of his inventions are whimsical and fun.
Long-term emphasis on agriculture and suppression of business, underdeveloped industry and commerce, difficult to accumulate capital, and no economic foundation.
It has been ahead for nearly five thousand years. Can't you take a nap once in a while?
Now it is temporarily behind individual countries in individual fields.
Nothing. I'll catch up soon.
Be confident and don't kneel.
It is precisely because of the restriction of feudal monarchy that development is limited.
If you lose your way, you will be helpless.
This problem is very big, simply add:
1. Philosophy is the beginning of learning and the foundation of all learning, that is, the mother of all sciences. Any professional discipline (such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, logic, ethics, political economy, etc.). It is necessary to start with the most basic definition and gradually build a building of knowledge, and definition is a philosophical thinking method and belongs to the category of philosophy. Western philosophy is systematic and clear. There is no similar complete system in China's ancient philosophy. Ancient Greece started from the study of nature, to the Middle Ages based on God, to the Renaissance, and traced back to the humanistic spirit of ancient Greece and Rome. When people in China talk about philosophy, they are most concerned about how to settle down.
Einstein once said that the development of western science is based on two great achievements, namely, the formal logic system and the discovery of causality through systematic experiments. Specifically, western philosophy and science are homologous, western philosophy is based on "logical" knowledge, while scientific paradigm is based on "mathematical logic and positivism". Since Newton, science began to pay attention to experiments and observations (observation is based on strict definitions). This completely separates natural philosophy (science) from philosophy. China did not have these two foundations in ancient times, so all the technologies in ancient China can only be attributed to experience technology, not science and technology.
3. After the Opium War, western science was introduced into China in large quantities. From the Westernization Movement, the Reform Movement of 1898 to the Revolution of 1911, China tried to absorb the scientific achievements of the West. China people began to pay full attention to science and technology and basic science education.
I remember the economist Hayek once said: the change of thought and the power of human will have shaped today's world. Now that our ideas have changed, what are we worried about? It's over!
When it comes to ancient science and technology in China, the first thing that comes to mind is the four great inventions of ancient China, and then nothing else. But why China has a civilization of 5,000 years, but has not developed a systematic modern science?
I think China's science and technology has been locked by Confucian culture represented by Confucius since the Han Dynasty.
Why?
Its essence is benevolence, courtesy, wisdom and faith, as well as filial piety derived from benevolence, loyalty and sincerity derived from righteousness, modesty derived from courtesy, loyalty to the monarch and patriotism.
The rulers of the feudal dynasty thought that Confucian culture was too useful for the rule of the dynasty, so they vigorously promoted Confucian culture, and from the beginning of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, they rejected hundreds of scholars and respected Confucianism alone, cutting off the development gene of China's science and culture.
From the Tang Dynasty, China adopted four books and five classics in the imperial examination, and later the imperial examination even stipulated the format of eight-part essay.
In other words, if you want to enter the literati class and get ahead, you must learn four books and five classics, learn some eight-part essays, and the rest are miscellaneous studies. Then who will learn miscellaneous studies such as arithmetic?
Think about it. If the content of the college entrance examination in our country is only composition, and mathematics, physics, history, English, politics and other subjects are not tested, and only writing, good words and sentences and calligraphy are learned in the university stage, can the cultivated people promote social development?
If China's imperial examination system adopts the principle of inclusiveness and a hundred schools of thought contend, and the examination content includes all kinds of academics and encourages the development of all kinds of academics, China's population and high IQ can definitely catch up with or even surpass the West.
Now we can only assume that China spared no effort to develop Confucian culture and poetry in ancient times, without the inheritance of scientific culture, which led to the slow stagnation of science and technology in China, so that it fell behind greatly later, and future generations could only talk about the four great inventions!
Therefore, the ancient government of China did not encourage miscellaneous studies, but only respected Confucianism, which led to the slow stagnation of science and technology in China, so that it fell behind greatly later.
Therefore, China only has Confucian culture, poems and songs, and there is no inheritance of scientific culture, so it is impossible to develop a systematic modern science.
This problem is very complicated. I personally understand that at least these problems have affected the direction of China.
First, China entered the agricultural civilization very early, and agricultural technology has always been the key development direction, leading the world for a long time, including today.
Compared with fishing, hunting and nomadism, agriculture has a more stable income and is easier to store food, so it can feed more people. The development of agriculture also makes the culture that breeds on it emphasize the relationship among farmers, land and grain, while restraining the development of non-agricultural economy. With the division of social classes of intellectuals, peasants, industry and commerce, neither commerce nor the development of science and technology except agricultural science and technology is encouraged. It is true that people are tied to the land to prevent mobility, and naturally there is no need to study vehicles and self-defense weapons in the process of mobility. Only when there is demand can they develop. China is a typical self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy, with a lot of production and little demand. Agricultural output is high, and the pursuit of life enjoyment and cultural sublimation makes food, beautiful clothes (silk), tea wine, poetry and songs very developed.
Second, China has formed a unified pattern for a long time. Although there have been several wars, most of them belong to unity and pursue unity. In this way, many countries have not coexisted for a long time, and the melee has not stopped, which has also greatly reduced their competitiveness, especially the development of weapons. Although it has been threatened by northern nomads, most of the time, northern nomads just harass China, an agricultural civilization. Even if the rule was formed, it was assimilated by the system of agricultural civilization and China culture. After the turbulent period, they returned to the stable agricultural economy, but returned to the original state without mutation.
Third, the landform. The total population of China is growing, and the area is also expanding. By the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, almost all the surrounding areas suitable for human survival were included in the territory. The east and south are near the sea, the west is desert and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the north is alpine region. There is no room for expansion in this landscape, and domestic products can feed the population. Without the source of soil expansion, there is no need to develop new technologies.
Zheng He's voyage to the West is a visit to other areas outside the ocean. The place where I went to the West was less civilized than China. When I made this clear, I stopped backward areas from coveting China and plundering China's wealth. Naturally, I banned the sea and closed myself up.
Agricultural civilization, as long as it survives without worry, is really easy to approach. Even now, we can see that many agricultural countries still do so, and India is an example. If China is not industrialized, it will remain the same.
The rapid development of Europe still stems from war and plunder, which led to the era of great navigation, the development of vehicles and weapons, and the opening of modern science and technology.
However, don't sell yourself short. Not all technologies in China are behind the world, and the accumulated ideas and culture are not all useless today. Coupled with the wisdom and hard work of China people, after seeing clearly the development direction of the world, we will return to the top of the world in the shortest time, and this day will not be too far away!
First of all, Chinese civilization has lasted for five thousand years, and its five thousand years of cultural knowledge accumulation itself has formed a certain cultural system.
First, Taoist philosophy: Zhuangzi, Tao Te Ching and Zhouyi.
Confucian Analects, Xunzi, Mencius and universities;
Second, legal classics, Han Feizi, Daming Law, Qing statutes, etc.
Medicine: Pre-Qin: Shennong Herbal Classic, Shennong Huangdi Neijing, Han Dynasty: Mawangdui Han Tomb Medical Books, Huangdi Neijing, Zhang Zhongjing's Treatise on Febrile Diseases, Zhang Zhongjing's synopsis of the Golden Chamber.
Tang Dynasty: Sun Simiao, Fang, Ming Dynasty: Li Mingshizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica.
Four, management "pipe" and "rich country policy"
5. Geography: The Classic of Mountains and Seas in the Pre-Qin Period and Yugong: The History of Geography in the Han Dynasty, Notes on Shuijing in the Northern Wei Dynasty in China.
Travels of Xu Xiake, a geographer in late Ming Dynasty
6. Mathematical system: weekly arithmetic classics, nine chapters arithmetic classics, island arithmetic classics, five Cao arithmetic classics and Sun Tzu arithmetic classics.
7. Astronomy: Shi Gan's astrology during the Warring States Period was the earliest astronomical work in the world. The Great Yan Li of Monks and Their Followers in Tang Dynasty
Zhang Heng is the author of Lingxian and Hunyi Tu Shuo in astronomy.
Seven, psychological works:
Lu Jiuyuan's Anthology, Wang Yangming's Complete Works and Biography.
Military Science: Sun Tzu's Art of War, Sun Bin's Art of War, Woods, Tamia Liu, Wei Liaozi, Sima Fa, Taibai Silent, Tiger Bell Classic, Ji Xiaoxin's Book, Record of Training, Three Views, etc.
How can China's 5,000-year-old civilization not have a modern scientific system? Five thousand years of civilization is a collection of politics, metallurgy, economy, military, agriculture, industry, science and technology, humanities and nature in the vast history, forming the glory of our Chinese civilization.
Second, the four major invention technologies: gunpowder, compass, printing and papermaking; Seismograph is an important embryonic form and founder of modern science such as military, astronomy, aerospace, industry and navigation in China.
Third, some people may ask us why our modern science is developing slowly because we have a perfect theoretical knowledge system and the earliest embryonic form of modern industrial science. Since the Three Kings, Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang and Song, it has been the Han people in the Central Plains who have been promoting social change and progress. Since the Song Dynasty, China has been ruled by foreigners who invaded the country and closed their doors. Foreign culture ruled a big country for 98 years in the Yuan Dynasty and 267 years in the Qing Dynasty, which lasted for 365 years. With the integration of Manchu and Chinese cultures and the cruel cultural oppression, ideological oppression and social model compression of nomadic culture, China missed the opportunity of letting a hundred flowers blossom, a hundred schools of thought contend and develop by leaps and bounds. What the Yuan and Qing Dynasties wanted was their world stability, and what they wanted was the ignorance and conservatism of the Han people. These 300-year-old European countries used the advanced knowledge of our ancestors and the four great inventions to build ships and guns, set sail and invaded the colonial economy, and also promoted the changes of the Renaissance and the industrial revolution at home. For more than 300 years, we have been like a tiger trapped in chains and cages. Therefore, we didn't take away the dividends that should have belonged to China's transformation and industrial scientific development.
Of course, we must have cultural self-confidence.
China's traditional culture has a unique charm. National culture that can reflect national characteristics and styles. Personally, I like calligraphy, China culture and ancient poetry very much. In recent years, Hanfu has been greatly promoted, and people wearing Hanfu can often be seen in the streets, which is also the inheritance of our traditional culture in China.
China traditional culture is a culture with national characteristics created and inherited by national development. China's traditional culture has been passed down from generation to generation and gradually formed the present culture. China traditional culture can express different national civilizations, customs and spirits through different cultural forms.
There are many kinds of traditional cultures in China, such as Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, Legalism, Yin and Yang, military strategists and so on. They all had their own family's ideology and culture at that time. There are also piano, chess, calligraphy and painting that ancient ladies had to learn; Poetry and songs; There are also Chinese characters, Chinese medicine, costumes, operas, festivals, multi-nationalities, and architectural culture. ...
There are countless traditional cultures in China, which are unique to our nation. Of course, we must have cultural self-confidence. We should also try our best to develop and inherit the traditional culture of China.
Let me ask you a question first. Is China's Imperial Examination Scientific? How can a country that does not attach importance to science and technology develop modern science and technology?