Modern Neo-Confucianists' Scientific View And It's Enlightenment

Modern Neo-Confucianism, emerged in the 1920s, is an academic schism which is based on the theory of Confucianism and assimilates western sciences. The modern neo-Confucianism has became an influential cultural and academic colony from the May 4th Movement of 1919. As its important part of ideological system, science is the question which they cannot avoid under the new circumstances.Since the 1920s, Liang-shuming, the pioneer of the new modern Confucianism, put forward in his book , the idea that the traditional culture was just like an old tree capable of sprouting, since then, the keynote of the new Confucian, "to return to root, to create the new", has been established. He also pointed out where the new modern Confucianism should go. Mr. Zhang Jun-mai elaborated his view that "the science can not solve the problem of outlook on life" in the argument between science and metaphysics, had created the argument between the modern science and the humanism. In comparison with the first generation of Neo-Confucianist separated the real world and the value world and emphasized the difference between science and the traditional morals, the second generation, represented by Tang-junyi, Mou-zongsan, Xu-fuguan, emphasized particularly on exploring how to mix together the science and morals, the real world and the value world. On the one hand, they admitted that the lack of modem western democracy and sciences didn't lead to modernization in the real sense. On the other hand, they held that Chinese traditional culture doesn't repel sciences. On the contrary, it contains the elements of democracy and sciences. By the introduction of the theory of self-denial, they managed to prove that the theme of traditional ethics itself can gradually develop into logos of sciences. The third generation, represented by Du-weiming and Liu-shuxian, however, mostly living abroad, had a broader view and more life experiences. Therefore, compared with the first and second generations, the third generation had more self-criticism and paid more attention to the balance ethics and knowledge. And from Confucianism to science "intrinsic" and "surmounting" two aspects, makes the further development to the Confucianism modernization, and then develops a Confucianism revival movement in the global scope.The development of three generations of modern Neo-Confucianists' scientific view clearly has logic and ration. However, generally speaking, to modern Neo-Confucianists, intellectuality clings to dharma, Confucian morality which they attach great importance to prevent the introduction of spirit of science and formal logic. Therefore, it is difficult for modern Neo-Confucianists to develop modem science.Nowadays, Confucian culture should communicate with modem civilization bi-directionally. It's desirable to achieve bi-directional interaction between Confucian and modem society. Modern Neo-Confucianists' appreciation of the traditional culture is significative of the exploration of the relationship between Chinese tradition and modernization. Carrying forward traditional Confucian culture could be used for reference to prevent scientism, to achieve a balanced development between sciences and morality and to achieve a harmonious development between man and nature.