About Enlightment, Solution And Originality Of "Needham Question"

Joseph Needham, Fellow of the Royal Society(FRS),Fellow of the British Academy(FBA),famous bio-chemist, master of Chinese science history, acts as a close friend of Chinese. In the process of his study on Chinese history of scientific technology, such a question is raised: from 2 century B.C to 15 century A.D, natural science and its application, was by far superior to West Europe. However, why did not modern science sprout out of ancient Chinese Civilization, but origin from Europe of the 15th century? This is the question "Needham Question"noted by academic circles. About this question, plentiful internal and external scholars make a great deal of favoring exploration. At the beginning of this new century, scholars study and rethink this question about conditions and principles of science development, aiming at spreading scientific spirit of Chinese traditions, enhancing nation's scientific culture quality, propelling our nation up to science frontiers of the world, with intensively theoretic and realistic meaning. Plentiful historical states and classic instances are utilized, abided by principles of science progress, which comes from the variety of views and differentiated facets, with analysis and exploration of theory. Because "Needham Question"concerns about such many factors as politics, culture, society and economy etc, during dozens of centuries, To such a complex question, it is rare possible to make a systematical interpretation in a whole and only sketchy exploration from theory could be presented from some elementary facets. The article consists of 4 main parts as follows Part one is a brief introduction of "Needham Question"about its origin, connotation and research trend. Part two and Part three are the key body of the article. Part two is classically theoretic interpretation of the reply is in detail presented from such facets as society factors, economic factors, thoughts, cultural environment and views of philosophy. Part three is critical analysis of relevant theories, which is developed upon science theory and rethinking of skepticism Part four is epilogue of this article, as a summary of stuffs. From the start, based on deep study, theoretically deep exploration unveils practical meaning of "Needham Question"and generates enlightenment by theoretic analysis. It is the core of this article to expose the essential reason why Chinese society grows stagnant and backward. Refining essence from theory and experience, we pursue a way for nation's reinforcement depending upon technological innovation. Through totally systematic study on "Needham Question"in this article, we turn more realistic to facing society. With research of China's traditional science and civilization, we incessantly work on following Dr. Needham and improve his achievements. So, we mustn't be confined to the present situation, but guide eyesight forwards. Provided it is taken for granted that negative effect of "Needham Question"becomes significant in reality for spurring Chinese awake, study on positive effect of "Needham Question"becomes intensively and times-crossing meaningful, especially in modern times when Chinese endeavors to make great renaissance come true. So, this article uses a vast amount of words, to reply "Needham Question"on relevant theories in each angle. The aim is not at research of logical, but at thought and enlightenment. In retrospect of the development process of human's history, any civilization ever prospered or receded at last, also. East-Asian Continental Civilization was transformed from the primitive type into the special type and shrank to the edge. Blue Oceanic Civilization of West developed swiftly beyond the former and replaced it. That all happened about evolution in turn is general in the process of historical development. By contrast, shortly in future, vitality of blue civilization will regress, and boom no more, replacedby the more vital human civilization. This sort one of all civilizations, based on highly developed production power and dissolution of social conflict, is global green ecological civilization on organic unity from between yellow and blue civilization. For the goal of outs, we must become wary enough of unknown matters of the future with variable thoughts; relying on our advantage, seize up the "top"of the world civilization, endeavor to realize a long-termed blueprint and construct harmonious society of sustainable development. We are requested boldly to exterminate unreasonable factors of social development, to treat new matters with acceptable passions, to allow science and technology to develop without intervention, and to build up the platform for realization of green ecological civilization. It should be done to arouse human's creative power and pave up a shining road of global green civilization. Therefore, we rethink theoretically and research "Needham Question". Meanwhile, we not merely explore the reason why china's modern science lagged behind, but also explore which of traditional science co-exists with modern science. What's more, we can still assimilate the valuable stuffs from china's modern science and avoid the errors which occurred in the process of modernization while china's modernization is being realized. We take lessons from historical experiences and make practical use from ancestor's times and overseas. Many internal and external scholars one by one actively devote themselves to work on "Needham Question"and intend to foster special solutions to explain why modern science didn't cause in china, what they did seems similar as mathematicians seek the solution of "Fermat's Last Theorem."Most of them recognize "Needham Question"as phenomenal exploration of "china's modern science lagged behind". Recognition enhances realistic meaning of the "Question", but it is easy to neglect what to connote significance in chronology. China created a period of splendid times,...