Preface
Since ancient times, humans have been exploring the mysteries of the world, hoping to find a way to explain natural phenomena and solve problems that have plagued humanity for thousands of years. Science, as the driving force behind the progress of human civilization, is regarded as synonymous with "correctness", and it is in this context that science has developed rapidly and has had a profound impact on human society.
Although science has been fully developed in the West and has become an important force for the progress of human civilization, in the East, especially in China, science has not been produced. This phenomenon raises the question: why did the West produce science, but the East did not? What are the historical and cultural reasons behind this?
1. Science: the driving force behind the progress of human civilization
1. Scientific definitions
We need to clarify the definition of science. Science, a method of explaining natural phenomena through observation, experimentation, and reasoning, aims to obtain accurate and reliable knowledge of the world. This kind of knowledge, gradually accumulated through continuous practice and verification, can help human beings better understand the laws of nature, improve living conditions, and solve various practical problems.
2. The role of science
The main reason why science can become the driving force for the progress of human civilization lies in its unique role. Science can help humans reveal the mysteries of the natural world and give people a deeper understanding of the world. Science can provide powerful technical support for the development of human society, promote the improvement of productivity, and improve people's living standards. Science can help human beings solve various problems that have plagued us for a long time, such as disease, hunger, environmental pollution, etc., and provide an important reference for the sustainable development of human beings.
It can be said that the development of science has not only put forward higher requirements for human cognitive ability, but also injected a strong impetus into the progress and development of human society, and has become an important force to promote the continuous progress of human civilization.
2. The Rise of Western Science
1. The development of Western science
In the long history of mankind, the rise of Western science can be said to be an extremely significant event that has had a profound impact on the whole world. As early as the ancient Greek period, Western philosophers began to carry out in-depth conjectures and explorations of the natural world, and put forward many theories about the origin of the universe and the composition of matter, which laid a solid foundation for the later development of science.
After the Middle Ages, with the rise of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, scientific research in the West entered a new era, and people began to gradually get rid of the shackles of religion, put forward a large number of scientific hypotheses and theories, and verified these views through experiments and observations, thus gradually establishing a modern scientific system.
2. The influence of Western science
The rise of Western science has had an extremely important impact on the shaping of human civilization, not only making many important achievements in the field of natural sciences, but also providing important inspiration for the development of humanities and social sciences in later generations. Under the influence of Western science, people began to gradually get rid of traditional concepts and modes of thinking, and put forward many new theories about human society, systems, morality and ethics, etc., pointing out the direction for the progress and development of human society.
It can be said that all aspects of modern society are inseparable from the influence of Western science, whether it is industrial production, medicine and health, or education, culture and art, all of which have been supported by science and technology, bringing earth-shaking changes to all fields of human society.
3. Why did the West produce science?
1. Prerequisites for science
Why, then, did the West produce science, while the East did not? To answer this question, we need to understand what are the prerequisites for the production of science. From the perspective of the long river of history, the emergence of science is actually a specific cultural phenomenon, which needs a certain cultural background and way of thinking to develop.
Specifically, for science to arise, it is necessary to get rid of the notion of personification and deification of nature, and instead see the natural world as an impersonal being that can acquire knowledge through observation and experimentation. Science also needs a way of seeking evidence, that is, people are no longer gullible about everything, but through practice and verification to confirm their own opinions, to ensure that they are accurate and reliable.
2. The two cornerstones of Western science
And it is in this way of thinking and cultural context that the West has been able to produce science, on the basis of which it has achieved fruitful results. As early as the 6th century B.C., ancient Greek philosophers had already begun to put forward impersonal views of nature and the problem of change, which laid an important foundation for the development of science.
It can be said that the establishment of these two cornerstones has provided important ideological support and methodological guidance for Western scientific research, which has enabled Western science to continue to develop and eventually become the cradle of modern science.
Fourth, the reasons why the great powers of the East did not produce science
1. Characteristics of Chinese culture
Unlike the West, China has not produced modern science, what is the reason for this? From a cultural point of view, Chinese culture has completely different characteristics from Western culture, and some of its ideological concepts are contrary to the basic requirements of science.
Chinese culture has a personified view of the natural world, believing that everything in nature has its own soul and will, and that human beings can influence natural phenomena through sacrifices and prayers, which is completely contrary to the impersonal view advocated by science.
Chinese culture attaches great importance to the cultivation and inheritance of morality and ethics, believing that all human behaviors are constrained by moral norms, and scientific research often needs to break traditional concepts and carry out bold conjectures and practices, which conflicts with the steadiness and prudence emphasized by Chinese culture.
2. The influence of Chinese culture
It is precisely because of these characteristics of Chinese culture that China has not produced modern science, but has made great achievements in other fields, such as medicine, mathematics, philosophy, etc. It can be said that Chinese culture, like Western culture, has its own unique contributions and values, and this diversity is the precious wealth that enriches human civilization.
epilogue
The development of science plays an important role in promoting the progress and development of human society, and the reason why Western science has been able to achieve such brilliant achievements is inseparable from its unique cultural background and way of thinking.
In the process of discussing the development of science, we should also fully affirm the unique contributions of oriental civilization, strive to find commonalities between various civilizations, promote scientific exploration in different cultural backgrounds and learn from each other, and jointly promote the progress and development of human society.
Only when all civilizations can live in harmony and respect each other can we truly achieve the sustainable development of human society and let the light of science shine in every corner.