On Chen Johnson’s Works Of Science Dissemination In The Republic Of China

Before the1950s, the theory of evolution and zoology belong to the category ofnatural history in general, and the famous ichthyologist Chen Johnson left manywritings reflect the situation of the natural history of the Republic of China. ChenJohnson had received strict scientific training, and he put emphasis on scientificresearch, science education and popularization of science equally. However, there’snot a systematic study of Chen Johnson and his thought in Mainland China. Throughanalyzing Chen Johnson’s works of science dissemination in the Republic of China,this dissertation discusses his thought and proposition from the disseminationof Evolution and the popularization of zoology.After the New Culture Movement, scientific thoughts spread widely in China,Chen Johnson has done a lot of work in science dissemination. On one hand, Hespread scientific knowledge rather than the social thoughts so that contribute to thescientific enlightenment. On the other hand, he enriched the content of sciencedissemination, and combined the natural sciences and applied science together. Thedissemination of evolution reflects the former. Chen Johnson spread the theory ofevolution as knowledge, which includes the history of evolution thoughts, Darwin’sevolution, systematic and genetics. The popularization of zoology reflects the latter.Chen Johnson’s ichthyology research began in the Republic of China, and particularlyemphasis on the aquatic application. Actually, the theory of evolution and zoology arebeing included in natural history in the period of the Republic of China, thus theresearch on Chen Johnson’s works of science dissemination is of natural history too.The education of natural history in the schools is an important manifestation of the natural history of the Republic of China. Chen Johnson received such education, andadvocated such education. As a result, we are able to see the characteristics of ChenJohnson’s natural history, the relationship between natural history and science, andthus have a more in-depth understanding of the natural history of the Republic ofChina.