The Lack Of Mathematical Natural Science Had An Effect On The Backward Of Modern Science In China

Dr. Needham asked a remarkable question about Science and technology ofChina in the fifteenth volume of his works “Chinese Science and technologyHistory”： This is the question “Needham Question” noted by academic circles. Thisproblem has a variety of expression way，Joseph Needham himself in the “traditionalChinese science”(1981) a book for his proposed flap problems do the followingexpression： A，“why modern science，namely Galileo era ‘new，or experimental’philosophy only arose in the European culture，but not found in China and Indiaculture?”，B，“why in the two scientific revolution before about14centuries，Chinesecivilization found in nature，and the nature of knowledge to benefit human beings thanwestern have effect much?”“Needham Question” and most of them have been studiedthe simple expressions for the fourteenth Century： why China failed to have anindustrial revolution.“Why in the first Century BC to fifteenth Century，in applyinghuman natural knowledge to people’s actual needs，Chinese civilization pen Westerncivilization more effective?”More than100years，due to a positive reflection of China in modern sciencebehind the facts，“Joseph Needham difficult problem” is put forward in the history ofscience and technology，has been caused by long-term concern on history of scienceand technology，is the most attractive major problem，about “Joseph Needhamproblem” solve，doubt and controversy has never stopped. On the “Joseph Needhamproblem” solve，in search of Chinese modern science can not generate in the cause，the country and the world academic scholars of all aspects of philosophers，scientists，and historians have their own insights and a wealth of discussion. At the same time，domestic and foreign academic circles of Chinese historical aspects of the in-depthanalysis and puts forward some meaningful views and opinions，and the formation of a variety of views.The author thinks，over the years，many experts and scholars according to JosephNeedham’s questions to do the research mainly focuses on two problems： one，is theancient Chinese ever in science?--this problem differ on scientific definition. If youdo not put “science” concept is zoned out，so many of the discussions is equal to sayto oneself，discuss the object is not the same. Second，is the Chinese civilization in themodern science behind what is the reason.--this substance must be based on Chineseancient time has had scientific judgment. Obviously，if the first substantive answer isno，that is no science in ancient China，it is no need to discuss Chinese in modernscience behind in terms of what the reason is，that is a second substance does not exist.The author first recognized in ancient China is a science，but I don’t think Chinaancient science degree at present most brilliant as arguments in general. Yes，there isnot the same as "brilliant"，but should not be used “brilliant” or “no” two suchextreme judgment. While the Chinese civilization in the modern science behind interms of what is the reason，the author puts forward his own point of view.Through continuous research and repeated study found that there is no system ofdigital symbols into the Chinese character system in the development of mathematicspure mathematical research and documentation with Chinese characters， themathematical development to communication，inparticular，are very unfavorable tothe formalization of the mathematical expression，which directly hinder the formationof advanced mathematical civilization. The digital symbol using mathematics is thefundamental，is the best carrier of scientific thought and expression. Mathematicallanguage has a highly abstract，strict logic，wide application，and the symbolicmeaning of clear，quick to write abstract mathematical thought，easy to understandand apply，so the language of mathematics is mathematics and science thought formsof expression of essential condition. While the corresponding in ancient China，anddid not build highly concise，general science digital symbol system into Chinesecharacters system，mathematics and science are not established inner applicabilityrelations，no establishment of mathematical concept of natural science. Ancientmathematics in China lack of digital symbols，the lack of a deductive argument，andthen by the pragmatism thought，itself the social environment and the Confucianismand traditional culture on physical captivity，together with plans and abacus to someextent also inhibited the development of Chinese ancient mathematics，make thedevelopment of mathematics in China lost power source，it is difficult to formadvanced mathematics civilization，without advanced mathematics culture as the basis of modern science，and mentions from where? So，in this first will not discuss Chineseancient ever system experiment，there is no formal logic，only “to the mathematicalexpression of the hypothesis of” the key link deletion cannot support China to producemodern science.I hope that through to the “Joseph Needham problem” research，from the naturalsciences and mathematics of the absence of a perspective on Chinese modern sciencebehind one dug unexpectedly，enables us to the traditional Chinese science andcivilization have a more clear understanding of. Know your history，know ourcivilization at all levels of the various aspects of the achievements and shortcomings，aware of how we should treat their own civilization can better absorb foreigncivilization. The study alsoaimed at the “Needham Question” philosophy in thecontemporary science and technology development for our country in the direction ofbuilding a modern road. At the same time，the author hopes that his exploration toenrich the academic value of “Joseph Needham difficult problem”.