Su Shi’s Scientific Thoughts And Scientific Activities

Valuing researches and development of practical knowledge and technology was a consistent feature of our technical development in ancient China. Such a feature was especially obvious in the Northern Song Dynasty. The social and cultural environment in this period made scholars in the Northern Song Dynasty have strong sense of social responsibility and historical mission. The formation of scientific thoughts under Neo-Confucianism also enlightened their minds. Su Shi was a typical representative of traditional scholars, whose active attitudes to involvement in official affairs, conception of nature and science ideology formed after exploring nature outdoor and implementing rational thoughts on nature had close relationship with his scientific activities about major plans of the people’s livelihood, reflected the prosperity of scientific development in the Northern Song Dynasty, generated positive cultural effects and had profound impacts. This thesis uses a number of poetic collections of Su Shi as basic historical data, regards his activities in his life as a main clue, adopts documentary method and the method combining history with logics and discusses Su Shi’s scientific thoughts and actions by settling and looking for scientific elements in historical information and works about Su Shi in order to have more dimensional cognition of him.In the chapter one of this article, with an overview of his life experiences and historical background of the developing science and technology in Northern Song Dynasty, Su Shi combines political pursuit, natural exploration, scientific and technological activities and people’s livelihood, and family education and sociocultural atmosphere influence his science initiation, interests to explore and science of consciousness. Meanwhile, scientific and technological development is promoted and the formation of the view of nature of Su Shi and the background of scientific activities practice are also made by the rise of the new Confucianism in Northern Song Dynasty, deep skepticism in academia and practical and erudite Confucian culture.The view of nature of Su Shi is discussed in the chapter two which contains philosophical foundation of formation of the view of nature, cosmology thought of Su Shi, natural philosophy and natural-exploring spirit of "seeing and hearing" of Su Shi, that is,objecting subjective assume. In Su Shi’s opinion, the essence of nature is natural, and there are natural laws inside the production changes of the world. He also thinks all things in the universe are in constant motion. Su Shi explores the natural science with truth-seeking scientism and obsessive exploring spirit of pursuing truth.The chapter three expounds scientific activities in production practice of a lifetime of Su Shi. These practical activities, such as in the fields of medicine, agriculture, exploitation of mineral resources, irrigation, bridge construction, and regimen, etc, are aimed at benefiting people and guiding people in production practice, becoming a part of technological and economic progress in Northern Song Dynasty.The chapter four is to relate and analyze the combination of poetry creation and scientific and technological activities of Su Shi, which also collects and specifies technological innovation reflected in poetical works, for instance, craftsmanship in wine-making, diet and tea-drinking and regimen. Literary show method of Su Shi is an important channel for later generation to know the development and achievements of science and technology in Northern Song Dynasty.In short, this thesis deems that Su Shi formed his unique conception of nature and scientific thoughts after digesting thoughts of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and shaped the spirit of nature exploration, which paid attention to practice and real evidence, in activities in which he explored science. Su Shi’s favorable scientific literacy was an immanent reason for the situation that he could deal with government affairs proficiently when he was a governmental official. He not only had the aid of administrative force to promote science, technology and people’s livelihood but also skillfully used poetic prose with the function of science and artistic form to spread and popularize science and technology, which had great significance for the development and progress of the science and technology in the Northern Song Dynasty.