What is the mystery of Needham:

Needham's Mystery, also known as Needham's puzzle, is about why China's science and technology was far ahead of the West in the first to fifteenth centuries, but why didn't it evolve into modern theoretical science in modern times?

"We are faced with a series of amazing scientific creativity, outstanding technological achievements and thoughtful insight. That being the case, why does modern science, namely Galileo, Harvey, Van Sarius, Gesner and Newton, which have stood the test of the whole world and received reasonable universal praise, become the theoretical basis of a unified world family and develop in the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, rather than in China or anywhere else in Asia? " Joseph Needham. History of Science and Technology in China [M] (Chinese version). Science Press, 1975. ) (pages 43-44)

"Why did China's science stay in the experience stage for a long time, only primitive and medieval theories? If this is really the case, how can China people have some scientific and technological inventions in many important aspects, walk ahead of the legendary figures who created the famous' Greek miracle', keep pace with the Arabs who have all the cultural wealth of the ancient western world, and keep the level of scientific knowledge that the West can't catch up with from the 3rd century A.D. to13rd century? Why didn't China's weakness in theory and geometric method system hinder the emergence of various scientific discoveries and technological inventions? These discoveries and inventions in China often far surpassed those in Europe at the same time, especially before15th century (which is easy to prove). Modern science was born in Europe after16th century, which has been proved to be one of the basic factors for the formation of modern world order, but Chinese civilization failed to produce similar modern science in Asia. What are the obstacles? On the other hand, what makes science easier to be applied in medieval society in China than in Greek or European medieval society? Finally, why did China produce an organic view of nature, although he was relatively backward in scientific theory? " Joseph Needham. History of Science and Technology in China [M] (Chinese version). Science Press, 1975. )(P3)

Detailed:

a

Einstein once wondered why China didn't produce high-tech civilization.

Please look at the English version of Einstein's collected works. There is an error in the translation of Chinese version.

Dr. b's life.

(Someone added why there was no capitalist relationship in China. In fact, it is mainly a matter of science and technology. )

Dr Needham (1900— 1995) is a famous British scientist, a master of China's history of science and technology, and an "ambassador to the people" in Sino-British cultural exchanges. 1943 In February, Joseph Needham, who was appointed as the representative of the British Council in China and the Scientific Counsellor of the British Embassy in China, arrived in Chongqing and started his work in China for more than three years. During this period, he not only gave great assistance to China's wartime science and technology and national defense industry, but also made great contributions to introducing China's wartime scientific and technological achievements and suggestions to the west to turn aid to China into a two-way cultural exchange. More importantly, during this period, he produced some important knowledge about Chinese civilization and sprouted the idea of writing the history of science and technology in China. At the same time, he raised the question of why China's ancient science and technology was in a leading position in the world, but it fell behind in modern times. This problem was later called "Needham puzzle". Needham, a foreigner, may not know enough about China, and his conclusion is worth pondering. But he raised the above questions in a scientific spirit, which is commendable.

The proposition of "Needham puzzle"

Needham's most important thought about Chinese civilization is that he highly praised the great achievements of ancient science and technology in China, and criticized the West for not realizing the great contribution of ancient science and technology in China to world civilization. At the same time, he raised the question of "China has made great achievements in ancient science and technology, but why did China's ancient civilization not develop modern science and technology".

There are various opinions about the time when Needham's puzzle was put forward. For example, some people think it was in the 1950s and 1960s. However, according to historical records, Needham first raised this issue in February 1944, when he raised this issue in his official work report to the British government. The name of this report is "Report on the First Year's Work of the Sino-British Science Cooperation Bureau", and its signature is the China Science Office of the British Council. In this report, Joseph Needham said that the Sino-British Science Cooperation Hall has arranged some English translations of Chinese books, with the focus on translating China's scientific and technological books. Why do you want to make such an arrangement? Needham led to an important problem called "difficult problem" by later generations. He said: "This is because China's contribution in this respect makes people feel that the West was misled in the past. China people are really good at scientific experiments and inventions. The question is: why didn't they continue to rise to theory, establish their own theoretical system, or develop modern science like the West? " 1946 July 16, Joseph Needham returned to London and delivered a speech entitled "Some Thoughts on China" at the luncheon where the British-Chinese Association welcomed him back to China. He raised the question again in his speech.

Why did Needham ask the above questions? The main reason is that, through his understanding of China, he doesn't agree with the view that "there were only humanities and no natural sciences in ancient China" and that the west ignored the contribution of China's ancient science and technology to modern world civilization. This can be seen from Needham's evaluation of ancient science and technology in China and his investigation of the present situation of science and technology in China in wartime.

Needham's Evaluation of China's Ancient Science and Technology

Needham spoke highly of the development of ancient science and technology in China. He said: "Westerners usually seem to think that China is a purely agricultural and artistic civilization, but this is not the case. The people of China have also made great contributions to world science and technology. They first invented the magnetic compass, explosives, papermaking and printing, and vaccination in the world. They are the first country in the world to recognize malnutrition and invent smelting cast iron. Among their traditional medicines, there are still several that have great value and use today. " Needham's evaluation of the contribution of ancient science and technology in China to the world is basically correct, but who invented the vaccine first in the world still needs textual research. Needham was the first westerner to point out clearly that China invented gunpowder, compass, papermaking and printing. In addition, Needham also affirmed other advanced science and technology in China on various occasions, such as iron smelting, traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

Needham believed that the highly developed science and technology in ancient China proved that China people had wisdom and perseverance. Needham was deeply touched by this in his contact with scientists in China and people in China. He spoke highly of the scientific work and great achievements made by China scientists under extremely difficult conditions during the war, and praised the people of China for making maximum use of resources. He paid special attention to the universities and scientific research institutions in wartime China, and thought that the achievements of many universities and scientific research institutions in China were world-class. He specifically mentioned Institute of Biology of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Kunming Tsinghua University Institute of General Biology and Plant Pathology, praising them as world-class and their scientists have written many valuable papers. Needham himself is a biochemical expert, and his evaluation should be more authoritative.

Needham carefully studied the achievements of ancient science and technology in China and the present situation of science and technology in China, and reached the following conclusion: China's ancient science and technology is leading the world. The people of China have the ability to develop world-class science and technology. In the past, China was regarded as a country with dominant agricultural civilization, so it was concluded that China was a country that made no contribution to world science and technology. "This common idea is wrong and misleads westerners."

D

Needham's own answer to the Needham puzzle

Needham believed that China's ancient science and technology was in a leading position in the world, but it was backward in modern times. There are two fundamental reasons: first, there is no real feudalism in China, and the feudal system after the reunification of China is a kind of "bureaucratic feudalism", which hinders the development of science and technology in China; Second, the geographical environment of China determines the occurrence of the above situation.

Needham thinks that the historical development of China is different from that of the West. From the early Phoenician and Greek city-states to modern cities, such as Antwerp and Lyon, the history of the West is inseparable from the city-states. In China and India, nothing can match it. Compared with western city countries, that is, "city-states" or free cities, ancient cities in China are mainly the centers of agricultural areas, and have nothing to do with mining or navigation activities; Unelected mayors, senior municipal officials and city councillors are all appointed by the central government and are only responsible to the court. This is the fundamental difference between Chinese civilization and European civilization.

Needham believed that after the first great unification of ancient China (probably referring to the great unification of the Qin Dynasty), it was not commercial capitalism, but "bureaucratic feudalism". He further said that bureaucratic thoughts have penetrated deeply into the complex thoughts of the whole people of China. Even in folklore, it is full of this idea. Needham said that in the west, the rise of science and technology is linked with the rise of the business class. But in China, the business class never got the rights that European businessmen got. There are many phrases in China, such as "emphasizing agriculture over commerce", which indicate the guiding policies of the bureaucratic government. In China, there is too much resistance to the development of science and technology. In Europe, the development of science and technology can break through these obstacles and achieve the present achievements. Needham's view should be said to be basically correct.

When talking about the "bureaucratic feudalism" practiced in ancient China, Needham asked himself, "If you want to ask why there is no real feudalism in China, the answer may be related to the extremely important water conservancy network." He said that Europe has no monsoon climate and China has no special rivers and mountains, so Europeans don't need to build a huge water conservancy network. However, China people have to build a water and profit network since they were very young. To solve the flood problem, they must be treated as a whole. Water conservancy network is beyond the reach of any feudal Lord, which can explain why feudalism in China gave way to bureaucratic civilization in China. Needham analyzed the reasons why China civilization is different from European civilization from the aspects of climate, rainfall, geography, economy and social environment. Finally, he concluded: "If China people have a specific environment in Europe and America, instead of being in a vast area where the north is cut off by desert, the west is cold snow-capped mountains, the south is jungle, and the east is vast ocean, the situation will be completely different. I will boldly assert that the situation will change completely. China people, not Europeans, will invent science, technology and capitalism. The names of great people in history will be the names of China people, not Galileo, Newton and Harvey. " Needham even said that, in that case, Europeans would learn China's hieroglyphics in order to learn science and technology, instead of China's learning Western alphabet languages.

During his work in China, Dr. Needham visited universities, scientific research institutions, laboratories and factories in China, and produced some important ideas about ancient civilization in China, which laid the foundation for writing a great history of science and technology in China in the future.

General comments on zhuao 1997:

Others have different opinions.

Resource factors ... cultural factors ... system complexity factors.

Including logic, monetary system, and even Dr. Liu Xiang. ... added/

Although it can't be said that it doesn't make sense, there is always a suspicion of seeking the law from the outside. .

1. China has many shortcomings in the west, so ...

2. At that time, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, the mainstream tributary of China people, all emphasized internal evidence. What external evidence-such as temporary science (why temporary-future science must be combined with internal evidence-can make a qualitative breakthrough, and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle has initially found clues).

For example, before the Tang Dynasty, external alchemy was very developed, and various chemical methods such as gunpowder were developed from Taoist external alchemy-why didn't it develop later? Those who take foreign pills must have certain internal evidence, and their wealth, fame, food and sleep are not bad. Do they die from time to time after eating foreign orders? It is inevitable that we will be burned and the meridians will diverge. Zulong Qin Shihuang ... Li Shimin and other 90 people were so arrogant ... Later, Lv Dongbin, Zhang Boduan and Wang Zhongyang were born to guide monks to develop Inner alchemy.

3. People in China have the same logical mind, and they only learn knowledge and methods. Mathematically, their father and son are grandfathers. ....

In short, China failed to emphasize the internal evidence of external scientific and technological development, mainly in the aspect of motivation, otherwise nothing would interfere. ...

5. However, when the theory becomes clear-especially when Zen is developed, things are so paradoxical-the clearer the theory-the more time it takes to revise the certificate-

6. Is this a blessing in disguise?

7. I have no time today, 88

zhuao 1997:

The trouble with people is to be a good teacher. It is better to kill with wisdom than to behead/

If one can follow one's inclinations and even enlighten others, it is really a refuge for all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas/

All his merits and demerits are rewarded to all sentient beings. If there are any mistakes, please correct them with your profound knowledge/

1 What are you doing alive?

Represents heaven and earth, represents life; Draw lessons from the past and open up peace for future generations.

2 students: originally quiet and mellow, why did the world come into being:

I feel that the nature of the sea is clear and round, that the nature of the sea is clear and clear, and that the nature of light is free.

Establishing the world according to heaven and realizing the national territorial consciousness are like the sea in the consciousness of all beings.

There are three kinds of countries that leak dust, which are born and died according to space-Manjusri.

3 Death: A goes straight to pure land or hell after the fruit ripens.

B For the rest, it takes about 49 days to be reborn or reincarnated through the body (soul).

C go to the pure land to seek academic achievements, but also come back to spend all beings; When I get to hell, I will come up to practice again.

What is the opposite of dream-loneliness consciousness-sixth consciousness?

Why can't literati make remarkable achievements-playing with Buddhism and having fun with it?

6 Bodhisattva: sentient beings in the heart of the avenue, ancient translation; Xuanzang was later translated into sentient beings. An ordinary man with a big heart is a bodhisattva.

Affection: Affection means trouble; Consciousness is an arrangement of directions. Sail and sail, the direction is accurate, and you can't see the other side for a while, so you reach the other side.

7 This wish: This wish exists all over the world. This is the truth of nature. If you don't see a sexual person, build a wish from your knowledge. The original wish of Buddhism and Bodhisattva is unmoved by the external environment. The evil teacher said, if you don't move, you will have it.

If you want to get rid of illness, get rid of troubles, realize your wishes, and even see your heart clearly, please read first in order to get rid of life and death.

Nan huaijin, the work of master Kong Jing/Because it is easy to read, read the original tripitaka!