The Research On The Thoughts Of Science And Technology Of Xunzi

Among his fellow pre-Qin (before 3rd century B.C.) intellectuals in ancient China, Xunzi stands out as a materialist, who casts his light of thought on a school of philosophers, later known as the Legalists, including Han Fei and Li Si, and trims his theories into a book named after himself conveying his view on science and technology, which is unfortunately ignored to some extent by the later generations of Chinese scholars under the dominance of the Confucians. And scholars even questioned the title of Xunzi as a Confucian. His glittering theories of science and technology failed to be carried up by later generations, which is believed to be one of missing links between ancient Chinese science to its modern counterpart. The re-excavation of Xunzi and his once-ignored theories on science and technology will help to solve the Joseph Needham Puzzle about the absence of modern science in China, and to reintroduce in modern culture Xunzi's perception of science out of ancient Chinese philosophy illuminating the history.In this paper, the author examines the logical trace of Xunzi's theories on science and technology on the backdrop of history and society. After the introduction of Xunzi and his work, the author unfolds the very period of history when Xunzi's theories on science and technology take shape, and analyzes these theories form the perspectives of methodology and the view of nature, and then reviews his thoughts on findings, designs and applications of technology, along with his ethics of technology and its practical value. In the end, the author advocates the critical reuptaking of Xunzi's thoughts on science and technology .And the author also advocates the critical reinterpretation of Xunzi's ecological theory as figuring out the rule of nature to serve people to achieve harmony between nature and the human-beings.