比较两部有关中国科学思想史著作之差异

Comparing the Differences between Two Works on the History of Chinese Scientific Thought

摘要: 目前，有关于中国科学思想史的专著较少，对于中国科学思想史相关问题的研究，科学哲学家及科学史家皆有不同看法。其中影响中国科学思想史研究较大的著作有两部。其一是英国学者李约瑟于1956年出版的《中国科学技术史》第二卷；其二是由席泽宗院士主编的《中国科学技术史·科学思想卷》。本文试以“著书体例、研究方法和史料运用”、“对于儒家科学思想的看法”、“‘科学’一词在其著作中的体现”三个问题比较两部著作的差异。《中国科学技术史》第二卷观点较独特，《中国科学技术史·科学思想卷》在内容上较全面。

Abstract: At present, there are fewer monographs on the history of Chinese scientific thought, but philosophers and historians of science have different views on the study of issues related to the history of Chinese scientific thought. Among them, there are two works that have a great influence on the study of the history of Chinese scientific thought. One of them is the second volume of Science and Giilisation in China published by British scholar Joseph Needham in 1956; the other one is History of Science and Technology in China—Scientific Thought Volume edited by Academician Xi Ze-zong. In this paper, we try to compare the two works in terms of three issues, namely, “Style of writing, research methodology and use of historical sources”, “the views on Confucian scientific thought”, and “the embodiment of the word ‘science’ in his writings”. The differences between the two works are compared with three questions. The second volume, Science and Giilisation in China, is unique in its viewpoint, while the History of Science and Technology in China—Scientific Thought Volume is more comprehensive in its content.