Aesthetic scholars: After the Song Dynasty, the development of science and technology

/> ] Jor Middot; Mochill believes that China and Europe have developed this long development in science and technology since the 16th century.(Photo by Guo Jiahui)

Professor Joel Mokyr, an economic historian of Northwestern University of the United States; Professor Joel Mokyr pointed out that the bureaucratic control of the strength of the ideological market and the different development of the family structure have caused China and Europe to disappearThe transformation of the other side has caused China to suffer a tragedy in the 19th century.

In the lecture of Wu Qingrui, hosted by the East Asia Research Institute of the State University of Singapore, how much is the historical trajectory of China and the West: Chinese and Western?(CHINA and the West: Many Great Divergeences?) Discussion, analyzing the above conclusions after analyzing the differences between China and Europe in the ideological market, family structure, national unity and division.

He believes that China's scientific and scientific and technological development has achieved great success in the Song Dynasty, just like the European industrial revolution period, and then gradually slowed down in the Ming Dynasty until the late Qing Dynasty stopped.In contrast, the medieval Europe is backward, full of violence and famine.However, all of this changed in the 16th century, because of the scientific and scientific and technological development of Europe, under the drive of the private sector, it achieved significant results.

European intellectuals are more brave to challenge authority to seek breakthroughs in the foundation

Mochir pointed out that at that time, the top scientific and scientific and technological talents in Europe worked in the private sector, which could get rid of the framework of traditional thinking and promote the diversified development of knowledge.The development of science and science and technology in China is led by bureaucrats, but it does not mean that the Chinese have no ability to invent.As the court bureaucratic system tends to be conservative, China's scientific and scientific and technological progress has gradually decreased after the 13th century. After the 15th century, it was lost, indicating that the Chinese scientific innovation after the Song Dynasty declined.

European officials not only play a secondary role in talent absorption, but also cannot control the free operation of the ideological market.The basic belief of European intellectuals is that accumulating the knowledge left by predecessors can promote economic and social progress.

Mo Keir pointed out that, compared with Chinese intellectuals, European intellectuals dare to challenge authority and not indulge in the truth and wisdom left by their predecessors. Instead, they find breakthroughs on their basis, which is particularly prominent in the late 17th century.The ideological market of the Ming and Qing Dynasties of China was quite different from Europe. At that time, the Chinese intellectuals followed the new Confucianism advocated by Zhu Xi, the famous thinker of the Song Dynasty, that the imperial examination system monopolized the liquidity of the ideological market, especially in the Qing Dynasty.Many Chinese scientists still cannot abandon the value and beliefs that have evolved after thousands of years before they have been verified.

In terms of family structure, in the early Middle Ages, Europe abandoned the establishment of a large family and set up a core family, and women were late.This transformation is related to the strict of pronounced relatives, big marriage, divorce, and adoption of Christianity.Europeans learn to believe in unrelated people and cooperate with them in volunteer groups, which is conducive to building a civilized society.People are more inclined to cooperate with non -relatives and trust the government more.

The situation in China is very different.The Song Dynasty introduced Champa Rice, and farming requires a large number of people to promote the establishment of a large family for easy cooperation.The big family also tended to worship the ancestors, and it became consistent with the respectful Zhu Zi etiquette at the time. In the subsequent Chinese dynasty, the big family always played an important role.

Another difference between China and Europe is the unity and division of the country.Since Kublai Khan was established in the Yuan Dynasty in 1279, China has maintained a single political entity; Europe has completely split after the decline of the Roman Empire.

Multi -central system allows Europe to continue to increase military technology

In this regard, Mochir said that the differences between the polycentric countries of the split, compared with the differences between the unified countries, may not be so dark and white.However, the continuous armed conflict has indeed made the multi -central systems continuously improved in military technology, so that they can defeat the non -European countries, such as defeating China in the Opium War.

In concluding Mo Keir, China said: China is committed to pursuing the goal of stability and peace. This is especially true in the Qing Dynasty. It is not correct to say that they fail.In the 19th century, the Opium War in the 19th century, because of different game rules in Europe, and then through aggression and expansion, China experienced everything that happened in the revolution and 20th century.If Europe chose a different development path, history will be completely different.