A Study On The Views Of Science And Technology Of Wang Tao

Wang Tao was a first-generation thinker, political commentator, educator and journalist of modern capitalists, who criticized the reality, advocated the Western learning, initiated reform and contributed all his energy for Chinese modernization in upheaval times. Most of times of all his life, Wang Tao lived in Shanghai and Hong Kong which affected deeply by the West, he still traveled and lived in Europe and Japan. Unique life experiences and patriotic enthusiasm for his country and people made him always stand at the most forward position of the exchanging of the cultural between China and the West. Wang Tao advocated Western learning unremittingly, formed the deeply bright views of science and technology.The forming of Wang Tao's views of science and technology could not slip away from the background at that time: After the crushing defeat of the Opium War, the Qing Dynasty fell into a serious situation and China was faced with the unprecedented national crisis and cultural challenge. A batch of people with lofty ideals began seeking a road to save the country. They promoted the social ideological trades from "humanistic pragmatism" to "the Chinese knowledge as the body, the western learning for uses", set up modern enterprises and promoted "Westernization Movement" vigorously in the social practice. With the course of being invaded, the Chinese gradually contacted the western material civilization, culture and way of life and changed their own viewpoint of science and technology step by step.The forming of Wang Tao's viewpoint of science and technology also had one course as the change and development of society in late Qing Dynasty. The early conception about the world of Wang Tao was "China is the Word", but after working in the Mohai Libray, his views of science and technology began to change: from the doubt and contaction, identification and understanding to highly praise and practice, etc. In the views of Wang Tao about science and technology, "Gezhi" had the same meaning as the principle of production. He advocated pursuing the principle and law of "Gezhi" by the methods of experiment and analysis, then putting it into effect so as to get the practical effect. Wang Tao discussed scientific problem with "Gezhi" and classified it as "Yixue", he also used "Qijiyiqiao" and "Liqi" to replace "technology" widely used by the people of today. He still highly praised the methods of scientific experiment and spirit of Francis Bacon's scientific experiment. Based on the understanding for science and technology, Wang Tao had deeply observed its social role: advanced science and technology could promote the maximum development of social production, the application of science and technology could still offer convenient for resident life. But Wang Tao had confined think that China don't suit the application of science and technology for limited environment and experience in the period of working in the Mohai Libray. Wang Tao also had investigated the conflict and mix between science and technology and Chinese traditional culture systematically from several aspects of the relation between "Dao" and "Qi", the relation between "Western Learning" and "Chinese Learning", evolved idea and the word belong to one, etc.The content of Wang Tao's views about science and technology are rich, it had deeply affected the new awakening of the Western Affairs Faction and the Reformation Group and had important enlightenment on the Reform Movement. The views of science and technology of Wang Tao also had deep influence on military affairs, economic and scientific education in late Qing Dynasty. Besides, the view of saving country depending on talents also had offered reference for country to choose talent under the condition of country ruined and talent shortage. Even in today, the views of science and technology of Wang Tao still have important reference value for introducing and referring to foreign advanced science and technology so as to promoting the development of the educate and talent's creation. Of course, the views of science and technology of Wang Tao have some defect, for example, he thought the western modern science and technology coming from Chinese ancient times, the West was advanced than China only in the aspect of "Qi" and the world whole would move towards the same one under the leading by the Confusion Culture. However, Wang Tao lived in the old times and his thought was also the reflection of that time, his views still have bright times' feature and have important location and historical meaning on Chinese modern history.