思维方式:中国近代科学落后的深层探析

古代曾经辉煌灿烂的中国科学为什么会在近代衰落,这是近代以来几代中外学者关注、思索的所谓“李约瑟难题”。本文系统地从思维方式的角度,运用比较学方法,比较深入地剖析了中国传统思维方式,特别是其长于综合短于分析,强调模糊缺乏精确定量,重思辨而轻实证,满足于直观外推和经验比附的方法,以及一元性压抑创造性等特点,对近代科学衰落的深层影响。文章特别指出,现代思维方式（以西方为代表）出现了重综合、重直观、重模糊等倾向,但这是西方分析型思维、逻辑手段与定量化方法高度发展后的“回归”,是否定之否定式的“回归”。我们在思维方式上,肩负着补课与发展的双重任务。也唯其如此,中国科学才有全面赶超西方之希望。

Modes of Thinking: Deeper Research into Lagging-behind of Chinese Modern Science

Chinese science which used to be so splendid in the past has been lagging behind in modern times. This fact, referred to as"Joseph Needham's difficult problem", has been much thought of and cared about. From the view point of the modes of thin king and with a comparison approach, the paper goes far in analyzing the traditional Chi nese modes of thinking, which lead to the far - reaching influence of the lagging behind of modern science. These are characterized by: more synthesis less analysis; stressing vaguenss yet lacking accurate quantification, favoring thinking against positivism, being satisfied with direct perception through the senses and empirical comparison and laying stress on unification and depressing creativity. The paper especially points out that mo dern modes of thinking (represented by the west nations) have a trend toward favoring comprehensiveness, direct perception, vagueness, which is the"returning" of the highly developed western analytical style of thinking, logic and quantitative approaches, or the "returning" of negation of negation. In order to keep up with the western science, China has the dual tasks of catching up and developing in the issue of modes of thinking.