Blend In The Scientific Spirit In The Confucian Tradition

Against the background of the overall intersection of science and Confucianism since late Qing Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty, this thesis studies how Ruan Yuan managed to blend the essence of science into traditional Confucianism. Massive discussions have emerged concerning Ruan Yuan’s thoughts about science and technology, which can be mainly embodied in Chou-ren Zhuan, as well as his other opinions about western learning. Detailed review and analysis of his achievements in economic and historical studies have also been conducted. However rare studies have been made with regard to his infusion of Confucianism and science, which constitutes the core issue of this thesis.First of all, the essence of scientific spirit in Ruan Yuan’s age as well as its specific embodiments in Ruan Yuan are reviewed in detail. His scientific spirit that focus should be paid to experience justification and rigorously logical thinking followed with consciousness (namely induction and deduction) can be abstracted by means of arrangement of Ruan Yuan’s textual research and glosses as well as organization of book compilation and education efforts, on the basis of his own scientific literacy and his attitude toward western technology newly introduced into China. Then the contributions that Ruan Yuan has made after integrating such scientific spirit into his academic research and daily tasks are discussed. Finally the perfect combination of science and Confucianism in this prestigious person can be excavated.This thesis, for one thing, attempts to analyze scholars’responses to the western learning under the wave of eastward transmission of western sciences at the late Qing Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty; for the other, seeks to reexamine the relation between Confucianism and science based on the above analysis. As for science, Confucianism on one hand means a barrier, but on the other hand bestows science with intolerance and acceptance, expansion and energy. Therefore a relation of mutual promotion and mutual infusion does exist between them. A detailed and scientific analysis of some representative persons, such as Ruan Yuan, will surely contribute to our understanding of the issue and thus give birth into some enlightening ideas about the future development of science and Confucianism.