Intuition And Its Value In Development Of Science

Intuition is a venerable theory problem that can trace back to thousand years ago, and special form of thinking in modern science development. It has already become common research object of philosophy, cognitive science, psychology, aesthetics, brain science and artificial intelligence. It begins to develop in unitary and integrative way especially since the twentieth century. Many famous scientists in modern society, like Joseph Needham, tree of Tang Chuan, F·Kapula and so on, followed the trend, turned their eyes to Taoist of China, appreciated and agreed with the modes of thinking and the method of thought of archaic wise philosopher, like Laozi, Chuangzi and so on. Dong Guangbi call these scientists "new Taoist". Their research has similarity and inherent consistency with Taoist thought on totality and the mode of intuitive thinking. And the relation between Taoist and the mode of thinking of modern science also deserves serious research. Therefore, the intuition is inherent logic request of the history development of human research in intuition, and the inevitable result of modern science development as well. The text discusses the definition of intuition from epistemology of philosophy and the creation basis of intuition. Then, it discusses intuition and its value in science, considering together with the development of modern science.The text has three parts:The first part castes back the theory origin of intuition. Intuition problem, as a theory problem that ancient wise philosophers began to discuss, has far-reaching theory origin. In one hand, it analyses the concept of intuition in west philosophy history, including he ancient Greece period, the Middle Ages, the latter-day times, Germany classical philosophy period, modern period; in the other hand, it discusses intuition theory of Chinese philosophy history, from the Qin period to Song Ming Li, their viewpoint is a inherent and introspective mode. To consider the development of Chinese and Western philosophy in general, we can find that their viewpoints are diversified, but they both acknowledge the existence of intuition, and regarded it as a kind of knowledge, cognitive ability, knowing process or the cognition to study.The second part, it analyses intuition and its character. First, it confirmed the definition of intuition. Intuition, as the process of cognition or thinking, is a mode of cognition and mode of thinking. Intuition means subject penetrates and apperceives objective things and its nature in a minute, basing on certain intuition ability, sensory experience and fact, and taking image as intermediary, and obtains original cognition achievement, and the mode of thinking and cognition activity that make problem perfectly solved. Second, it clarifies the basis of intuition, namely physiological and psychological mechanism. They set a groundsill of psychology for the definition of intuition. Finally, it discusses the characteristic of intuition, namely its non-consciousness, non-logical character of the process of intuitive thinking, its totality and the non-inevitability of its conclusion and so on.The third part discusses the value of intuition in science. The mode of intuition thinking, as a kind of scientific thinking mode, holds a certain function and meaning in the development of science. Scientists begin to put an eye on intuition thinking of east thought, especially the development of modern science. Because this method of thinking is thought on the extent of objective totality, and it has general external object, and scientists can create new research object relying on general penetration and understand of nature of thing.We can analyze this problem from two aspects. (1) The intuition makes scientists discern and understand nature and law of study of science. Taoist thought and the modern sciences have similarity. The nature of intuitive thinking of Taoist thought means general and quiet intuition. It is synthetically in general, and also a kind of penetration and apperception, which can make people grasp the nature and rule of object in general. Modern science inclines to a total and synthetic trend. Intuition makes scientists penetrate the nature of things whole and directly. At the same time, intuition thinking cannot go without logical thinking. They are complementary. (2) Intuition makes the cognition of scientists appear creative. Intuition often gives scientists new apperception and makes them appear creative in the science research. At the same time, intuitive thinking has close connection with image thinking and abstract thinking. When intuitive thinking works, image thinking and abstract thinking also work, making scientists create endlessly new science achievement.It is meaningful that the text studies the definition of intuition. It helps to understand the function and meaning of intuition in social realm at all levels, especially its value in science development. Intuitive thinking is a special and effective method of thinking in science study. It has already put a vital role in the scientist's practices in the past. And it also influences scientist's creative activities in the future. Modern scientists, especially modern physicists, put an attention to intuitive thinking. They both penetrate the nature of things whole and directly. Their cognition appears creative and gets better achievement in science realm.