On Thoughts Of Saint-Simon's Sociology Of Science

Science and technology is the significant symbol of advanced productivity, which plays a great promoting role in the historical development process of the human society. Marx had made profound research on the relation between science and society, he thought that science was a powerful lever of history and was the highest revolutionary force; that science development was based on the society needs. In more than half a century before Marx's upon judgment, Saint-Simon, known as the father of sociology of science, had already given a systematic study on the relation between science and society. Saint-Simon had highly summarized and systematically analyzed the western science, especially on the development of modern science and its contribution to the human. He had proposed his own unusual opinion on the relation of science and ethics, science and ideal social, scientific revolution and political revolution, all these analysis is of a certain extent of historical significance and research value.To organize the historical background and the theory origin of Saint-Simon's sociology of science is helpful to grasp the quintessence of his theory. The industrial revolution inspired Saint-Simon's interest to new technology; the experience of the American Revolution provoked his aspirations for new system and new society; the stormy situation of the French Revolution even more inspired his thinking on social history. Development of natural science, nourishing of enlightenment thoughts and heritage of early utopian socialism cultural, these all influence the formation of Saint-Simon sociology of science from different aspects.On this basis, this paper focuses on the main content of Saint-Simon sociology of science. Mainly analyzes Saint-Simon's views to the relation between science and society:science is a means to ideal society, morals is an aid power of science, the science revolution and political revolution are reciprocal causation. Then, this paper further analyzes the spiritual essence of his ideas. Throughout his thinking logic and theory, this paper believe that in his sociology of science thought, metaphysical materialism is its philosophy essence, human destiny improvement is its value to pursuit.This paper analyzes and criticizes the Saint-Simon sociology of science thought by using the basic stand, viewpoint and method of the Marxism. Firstly, his thought is the direct source of the Marxism scientific socialism theory. Secondly, his positive thinking is the source ofMarx's empirical views. Thirdly, he is one of the most important pioneers of the sociology of science, who has an irreplaceable status in the history of sociology of science ideology. Finally, since the limitation of his various aspects and the conditionality of the social situation at the era, there are also defects in his theory, which are mainly reflected in idealism view of history, moderate reformism, and less dialectic analysis on the relation of science to society. However, his effort and scientific spirit for the science advancement and human destiny improvement, is still of significant enlightening meaning to us.