china’s scientific tradition and the great inertia san-pao li, ph.d. department of asian and asian...
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China’s Scientific Tradition China’s Scientific Tradition and the Great Inertiaand the Great Inertia
San-pao Li, Ph.D.San-pao Li, Ph.D.Department of Asian and Asian American Department of Asian and Asian American
StudiesStudies
California State University, Long BeachCalifornia State University, Long Beach
April 24, 2003April 24, 2003
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OutlineOutline
The definition of scienceThe definition of science Scientific elements in Chinese Scientific elements in Chinese
traditiontradition Factors contributing to China’s Factors contributing to China’s
failure to achieve a “Scientific failure to achieve a “Scientific Revolution”Revolution”
Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks
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OutlineOutline
The definition of scienceThe definition of science Scientific elements in Chinese Scientific elements in Chinese
traditiontradition Factors contributing to China’s Factors contributing to China’s
failure to achieve a “Scientific failure to achieve a “Scientific Revolution”Revolution”
Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks
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The Definition of The Definition of ScienceScience
What is “science”? Latin origin: : scientia scientia (knowledge) Scientific = knowledge-making More than a body of rationally
gained knowledge….. An activity directed at altering
and increasing that very body of knowledge…..
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The Definition of The Definition of ScienceScience
Begins as an extension of common Begins as an extension of common sensesense
Seeks a higher, rational unity, a deeper Seeks a higher, rational unity, a deeper understanding which is unknown to understanding which is unknown to common sensecommon sense
Establishes a conceptual order in the Establishes a conceptual order in the chaos of perceptual experiencechaos of perceptual experience
Never-ending search for invariantsNever-ending search for invariants
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The Definition of The Definition of ScienceScience
Dissolubity Dissolubity (divisibility)(divisibility)
SuperposabilitySuperposability
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The Definition of The Definition of ScienceScience
A scientist transcends the physical A scientist transcends the physical world and roams at an intellectually world and roams at an intellectually higher and abstract realmhigher and abstract realm
Must also be capable of descending Must also be capable of descending back to our realm of experience and back to our realm of experience and subjecting to the examination of subjecting to the examination of systematic empiricism, hard fact, systematic empiricism, hard fact, and cold logicand cold logic
Galileo GilileiGalileo Gililei(1564-1642)(1564-1642)
Theory of inertiaTheory of inertiaEach of his manipulations was Each of his manipulations was guided by thought, guided by thought, each of his thought by each of his thought by experimental evidenceexperimental evidence
Isaac NewtonIsaac Newton(1642-1727)(1642-1727)
Found a precise mathematical use Found a precise mathematical use for concepts like force, mass, and for concepts like force, mass, and inertiainertiaGave new meanings to the old Gave new meanings to the old terms such as space, time, and terms such as space, time, and motion in an equally mathematical motion in an equally mathematical languagelanguage
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OutlineOutline
The definition of scienceThe definition of science Scientific elements in Scientific elements in
Chinese traditionChinese tradition Factors contributing to China’s Factors contributing to China’s
failure to achieve a “Scientific failure to achieve a “Scientific Revolution”Revolution”
Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks
Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
Joseph NeedhamJoseph Needham
Science and Civilisation in ChinaScience and Civilisation in China
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
China’s scientific China’s scientific concepts are hidden in concepts are hidden in Daoist philosophyDaoist philosophy
Daoist thinking Daoist thinking developed as a counter-developed as a counter-tradition in Chinatradition in China
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
Quantitative ScienceQuantitative Scienceconcerned primarily with concerned primarily with
numbers and its application to numbers and its application to physical realityphysical reality
concrete and empirically concrete and empirically provableprovable
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
Qualitative ScienceQualitative Scienceyin-yang, the five elements yin-yang, the five elements
or dynamic forces and other or dynamic forces and other verbal conceptsverbal concepts
abstract but powerfully abstract but powerfully rationalrational
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
AstronomyAstronomyThe earliest record of the The earliest record of the
motion of the five planets, motion of the five planets, A.D. 1-A.D.5A.D. 1-A.D.5
armillary sphere (Han armillary sphere (Han dynasty)dynasty)
Su Song’s astronomical clockSu Song’s astronomical clock
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
The Chinese timeThe Chinese time was not a succesion of was not a succesion of quantitatively equal and quantitatively equal and
qualitatively indistinguishable qualitatively indistinguishable units. units.
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
MathematicsMathematicsgave birth to the European gave birth to the European
“Scientific Revolution” in the “Scientific Revolution” in the 17th-century17th-century
The Nine ChaptersThe Nine Chapters (Han (Han dynasty)dynasty)
The Calculating MethodsThe Calculating Methods (Han (Han))
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
MathematicsMathematics3.14 3.14 64/62564/625 < pi >3.14 < pi >3.14 169/625169/625
in A.D. 263in A.D. 263considered as “insignificant art of considered as “insignificant art of
literary composition”literary composition”it cultivates little, if at all, one’s it cultivates little, if at all, one’s
moral charactermoral character
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
MedicineMedicineMedical Book of the Yellow EmperorMedical Book of the Yellow EmperorOn Typhoid On Typhoid (3rd century, 113 (3rd century, 113
prescriptions)prescriptions)Hua Tuo & Bian Que (Han dynasty)Hua Tuo & Bian Que (Han dynasty)Human vivisection (11th century)Human vivisection (11th century)Circulation of blood by William Circulation of blood by William
Harvey in 1618Harvey in 1618
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
Sir Francis Bacon Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)(1561-1626) ““Printing, gunpowder and the compassPrinting, gunpowder and the compass: these : these three inventions have already changed the face three inventions have already changed the face of the entire world and the condition of things. of the entire world and the condition of things. The first is concerned with learning, the second The first is concerned with learning, the second
with warfare and the third with navigation.with warfare and the third with navigation. The changes in these three areas will give rise to The changes in these three areas will give rise to
innumerable discoveries in other areas and no innumerable discoveries in other areas and no matter what empire, religion or constellation or matter what empire, religion or constellation or human affairs; no human influence will be as human affairs; no human influence will be as
great as that of the discovery of these great as that of the discovery of these mechanisms.mechanisms.
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
The Four InventionsThe Four Inventions CompassCompass
Gun powderGun powder PaperPaper
PrintingPrinting
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
Zheng He’s Seven Voyages
1405-1433
Zheng He’s Seven Voyages
1405-1433
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
The Gutenberg Bible, ca.1455The Gutenberg Bible, ca.1455The Gutenberg Bible, ca.1455The Gutenberg Bible, ca.1455
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Scientific Elements Scientific Elements in Chinese Traditionin Chinese Tradition
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OutlineOutline
The definition of scienceThe definition of science Scientific elements in Chinese Scientific elements in Chinese
traditiontradition Factors contributing to Factors contributing to
China’s failure to achieve a China’s failure to achieve a “Scientific Revolution”“Scientific Revolution”
Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Why, Why, if China advanced if China advanced
so far so early, so far so early, did it fall behind in did it fall behind in
modern times?modern times?
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Scientia contemplativaScientia contemplativa vs.vs.
scientia activa et scientia activa et operativaoperativa
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Cultural factorsCultural factorsInstitutional factorsInstitutional factorsPhilosophical factorsPhilosophical factorsMethodological factorsMethodological factorsOther factorsOther factors
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Cultural factorsCultural factorsSinocentric viewSinocentric viewthe backview mirrorthe backview mirrororder and harmony….. order and harmony…..
Avoid disorder and innovationAvoid disorder and innovationbureaucracybureaucracy
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Cultural FactorsCultural Factors
It is the Chinese culture itself It is the Chinese culture itself that absorbed most of the that absorbed most of the
people’s energy and inhibited people’s energy and inhibited their inquisitive spirit.their inquisitive spirit.
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Institutional FactorsInstitutional Factors
The Civil Service ExaminationThe Civil Service Examination
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Philosophical FactorsPhilosophical FactorsDaoist love of natureDaoist love of natureTrue knowledge does not lead to True knowledge does not lead to
the quest for a first cause or for an the quest for a first cause or for an irreducible atom….. irreducible atom….. But to the self-transformation But to the self-transformation whereby man becomes one with whereby man becomes one with the cosmos.the cosmos.
Aesthetic vs. scientificAesthetic vs. scientific
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Philosophical FactorsPhilosophical FactorsMoist logic and empiricismMoist logic and empiricism
Space=that which covers diff. PlacesSpace=that which covers diff. PlacesDuration=that that extends over different Duration=that that extends over different
timestimesCause=the obtaining of what a thing can beCause=the obtaining of what a thing can beCircle=that which has equidistant radii from Circle=that which has equidistant radii from
its centerits center
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Methodological FactorsMethodological Factors
Methods of inquiryMethods of inquiry Criteria of truthCriteria of truth
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
CERN: particle collisions create tiny fireballs 400 CERN: particle collisions create tiny fireballs 400 million times as hot as the sun, spraying out new million times as hot as the sun, spraying out new
matter.matter.
CERN: particle collisions create tiny fireballs 400 CERN: particle collisions create tiny fireballs 400 million times as hot as the sun, spraying out new million times as hot as the sun, spraying out new
matter.matter.
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Methodological FactorsMethodological Factors
Methods of inquiryMethods of inquiry Criteria of truthCriteria of truth
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
The Chinese method of inquiry was a The Chinese method of inquiry was a syntheticsynthetic one….one….
Its criterion of truth was its Its criterion of truth was its compatibility with the transcendental compatibility with the transcendental principles of the immutable one.principles of the immutable one.
The Western…basically an The Western…basically an analytical analytical one and its criterion of truth was its one and its criterion of truth was its precision, exactness, and verifiability.precision, exactness, and verifiability.
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China’s Failure to Achieve China’s Failure to Achieve a “Scientific Revolution”a “Scientific Revolution”
Other FactorsOther Factors
absence of private absence of private scientific groupsscientific groups
etc. etc.etc. etc.
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OutlineOutline
The definition of scienceThe definition of science Scientific elements in Chinese Scientific elements in Chinese
traditiontradition Factors contributing to China’s Factors contributing to China’s
failure to achieve a “Scientific failure to achieve a “Scientific Revolution”Revolution”
Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks
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Concluding Concluding RemarksRemarks
Chinese Chinese claimed no claimed no necessity of necessity of
science.science.
China’s Scientific Tradition China’s Scientific Tradition and the Great Inertiaand the Great Inertia
San-pao Li, Ph.D.San-pao Li, Ph.D.Department of Asian and Asian American Department of Asian and Asian American
StudiesStudies
California State University, Long BeachCalifornia State University, Long Beach
April 24, 2003April 24, 2003
Thank you!Thank you!
Your Your
comments and comments and questions questions
are welcome!are welcome!