(1) Sluggish social transformation, affecting the development of modern science and technology
Ancient Chinese science and technology thought paid more attention to summarizing practical experience, but despised theoretical generalization and abstraction. Therefore, ancient science and technology had strong practicality. nature, while ignoring abstract scientific research. The outstanding achievements in astronomy, agriculture, and medicine in ancient science and technology reflect this characteristic. Modern science and technology is based on experimental facts and has a strict logical system, which is completely different from ancient Chinese scientific and technological thought. In the process of transforming from a traditional society to a modern society, China implemented a policy of isolation from the outside world and a policy of focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce internally, which suppressed the development of new production relations. As a result, China's social development lagged far behind the West. The lag in the overall transformation of society has also led to the transformation of scientific and technological thinking and has not kept up with the development trend of scientific and technological thinking in the world. This is an important reason for my country's technological backwardness in modern times.
(2) The government does not pay enough attention to science and technology
In ancient China, Confucian culture occupied a dominant position. Confucianism emphasized joining the WTO and advocated "learning and excellence will lead to officialdom", and a large number of intellectuals were obsessed with imperial examinations The examination does not pay attention to technological development. The rulers vigorously advocated Confucianism and did not pay enough attention to the development of science and technology. Until the 1860s, the conservatives in the Qing government still regarded the advanced technology of the West as strange and ingenious. Even the Westernizationists who advocated learning from the West were only partial to the West. He is interested in practical technology and lacks a comprehensive understanding of Western technology. The government's indifference to science and technology caused the social status of scientific and technological personnel in ancient China to be low. There were very few scientific and technological talents who could leave their names in history.
In the West, which is in sharp contrast to China, as early as 1624, the British Parliament passed the "Patent Law" to encourage and protect private inventions. This greatly promoted the development of science and technology in modern Britain.
(3) The constraints of traditional concepts such as emphasizing "Tao" and "light" utensils on the development of science and technology
(1) Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty "deposed hundreds of schools of thought and only respected Confucianism", Confucianism has always been the orthodox thought in China's feudal era. Confucianism emphasizes "Tao" over "tools", emphasizes humanities over science and engineering, be cautious about self-cultivation and reject skills, and advocates "a gentleman without tools". What Confucianism pursues is "cultivating one's moral character, regulating one's family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world." In the minds of Confucian scholars, "to understand the principles of nature, to understand human relations, to speak the holy words, and to be knowledgeable about the world" is the main purpose and task of learning. Therefore, Generally speaking, Confucian scholars are mostly thinkers and rarely implementers. This kind of ideological concept is indeed not conducive to the development of science and technology.
(2) It goes without saying that traditional Chinese ethics restrict and restrict the development of science and technology. Naturally, scientific and technological activities that "utilize" and "enhance health" cannot violate the purpose of "morality". There are many examples of using Confucian ethical dogma to restrict the development of science and technology. Under the constraints of China, human anatomy is difficult to develop in China.
(4) The education system of the imperial examination system has gradually become an obstacle to the development of science and technology.
Education is a scientific development. One of the driving forces. Although the imperial examination system played a direct role in promoting the development of science and technology in ancient my country, with the development of history, the imperial examination system has increasingly hindered the development of modern science and technology, and its many shortcomings have become increasingly apparent. For the utilitarian purpose of consolidating the country and maintaining rule, the rulers mainly focused on the "civil and military ways" and gathered the "outstanding talents" in society around them through imperial examinations. This resulted in It was difficult for scientific and technological talents to grow. Because the feudal rulers maintained traditional Neo-Confucianism and imperial rule, they could not represent the development requirements of China's advanced productive forces. Therefore, although many changes occurred in China under the influence of Western science and technology in the 400 years from the beginning of the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century. This time is related to the changes in the calendar, educational system and even the bureaucratic system of the development of science and technology. However, it is regrettable that these changes have never been able to get rid of the shackles of the supremacy of imperial rule, and in the end it was difficult for science and technology to achieve the development it deserved.
(5) Social unrest affects the development of science and technology
After the Opium War, Chinese society was in turmoil. In the late Qing Dynasty, although a large number of aspiring young people studied abroad, they learned advanced Western science and technology in an attempt to save the nation from peril.
However, the political situation is unstable and corrupt officials have no way of serving the country. Especially after the end of the Qing Dynasty, China was plunged into war for a long time. China's science and technology development lacked a stable social environment, which also affected the development of China's science and technology to a certain extent.