User:Hamlet Wang/Liu Dachun

Liu Dachun(Chinese: 刘大椿、1944- )is a renowned Chinese philosopher and scholar, currently serving as a distinguished professor at the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China. With a career spanning several decades, Liu has made significant contributions to the fields of philosophy of science, science, technology and society(STS), and the history of scientific thought. His work is characterized by a deep engagement with both philosophical and historical issues, as well as a commitment to interdisciplinary research. Liu's scholarly output includes numerous books, articles, and edited volumes, which have earned him a prominent place in the academic community both in China and internationally.

Life and Academic Career

Liu Dachun was born into an intellectual family in 1944, China, where his father was a university teacher. Since childhood, Liu Dachun was a bookworm, although his family suffered a lot because of the social and political movement at that time, he was well taken care of by being immersed in the world of books. However, he has been played by fate, as an excellent student who only can receive an undergraduate education in the Jiangxi Normal College mathematics major. During his four years at the university, Liu Dachun read extensively in the college library from literature, philosophy, art, history, and politics. After graduating from undergraduate school, he entered a middle school to work as a mathematics educator. The Cultural Revolution began, when he was sent down to the poor countryside, where he received a few years of labor experience, and then worked as a teacher in a rural middle school for two years. At the end of the Cultural Revolution, Liu Dachun was transferred to Jiujiang Normal Technical College in Jiangxi Province, where he worked as a math teacher for five years. Until the end of the Cultural Revolution, he re-took the postgraduate examination and entered the Department of Philosophy of Renmin University of China to obtain a master’s degree in philosophy, which finally changed his life. After graduation, in 1981, he stayed at the university and taught, specializing in the philosophy of science and technology.

Liu's academic career began at Renmin University of China, where he quickly established himself as a leading scholar in his field. He was awarded the title of professor in 1990 and began serving as a doctoral supervisor in 1993. Over the years, he has held various positions within the university, including head of the Department of Philosophy, director of the Institute for Graduate Students, and director of the Library. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, Liu has also been involved in numerous academic and professional organizations, serving on editorial boards, conference committees, and advisory panels.

Throughout his career, Liu has been a prolific writer and researcher. His work has been published in top-tier academic journals and widely cited by other scholars. He has also been invited to give lectures and presentations at universities and conferences worldwide, further solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the field of philosophy.

Major Works

Liu Dachun's body of work is extensive and covers a wide range of topics within the philosophy of science and technology. Some of his most important works include:

1. On Science as Human Activity(《科学活动论》, 1985): In China during the 1970s, the question "What is science?" seemed to be a simple and clear one. The mainstream view defined science as a "system of knowledge": a system of knowledge about nature, society, and thought. However, inspired by the British scientist J.D. Bernal, Liu Dachun proposed the perspective of "scientific activity theory" in epistemology, systematically exploring and discussing science as a human activity and examining it from all angles. Modern scientific activities are most closely related to production activities, with the former serving as a preparatory means for the latter. The integration of knowledge into the production process and the transformation of knowledge into direct productive forces are important aspects of scientific activities. Scientific activities also interpenetrate with other social systems, such as military, political, and cultural activities, interacting and influencing one another.

2. Complementary Methodology(《互补方法论》, 1995): In this book, Liu Dachun conducted a series of comparative studies on various methodologies, such as mechanism versus systemic view, deductive models versus inductive models, justification versus discovery, and rationalism versus empiricism. He pointed out that we should be adept at learning from existing scientific methods and methodological ideas, but we must never absolutize any single method or methodological perspective. Although each method has its role, it also has its scope and limitations. Different methods can complement each other, leveraging their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses. In Liu Dachun's view, "If you have a broad enough mind to embrace all meaningful methodological ideas, and the wisdom to place them in their appropriate positions, allowing them to function in coordination, you can rightfully say with satisfaction that you are the subject of scientific activity."

3. Reconsideration of Science and Technology: A Study on Marx’s View and Contemporary Thoughts(2023, Routledge, English version)《审度：马克思科学观与当代科学技术论研究》（2017）: This work, against a backcloth of philosophical debates on science and technology, and in particular the viewpoints of Karl Marx, proposes to reconsider science and technology and explores how the philosophy of science and technology responds to scientific and technological evolutions and an ever-changing world. Liu Dachun not only offers a fresh interpretation of the "reconsideration of science and technology（科技审度论）", but also proposes the concept of "cultural science" in response to the current phenomenon of the alienation of scientific culture. He points out that in future development, in addition to maintaining the internal openness of science itself, we need to restore the cultural nature of science and technology, allowing them to once again become science and technology imbued with cultural significance. He advocates for open critique between science and various other cultural forms, aiming for mutual progress and development. Philosopher Carl Mitcham and Alfred Nordmann are interested in this work and published a review for this.

4. Works on Science, Technology, and Society: Liu Dachun is one of the pioneering Chinese philosophy scholars to focus on the issues of science, technology, and social development. Starting in 1994, he collaborated with the Advanced Science and Technology Research Center at the University of Tokyo on a study titled "Environmental Issues: Perspectives from Sino-Japanese Comparison and Cooperation," which resulted in the publication of the book Environmental Issues: From the Perspective of Sino-Japanese Comparison and Cooperation(1995),. Later, he co-authored Environmental Thought Research: Responses Based on Chinese and Japanese Traditions and Realities with Japanese scholar Shigeru Iwasa. In his international collaborative research on environmental philosophy and environmental ethics, Liu Dachun has consciously emphasized the integration of both theoretical and practical aspects.

At the turn of the new century, Liu Dachun's philosophical focus expanded alongside the development of information technology, delving into the fields of science and technology ethics, science and technology evaluation, and the humanistic aspects of science and technology. In his book, Between Truth and Goodness: Ethical Issues and Moral Choices in the Age of Science and Technology(2000), Liu Dachun pointed out that modern science and technology are not only a form of material practice but can also be seen as a pioneering social ethical experiment. Within this context, there are numerous ethical issues that require study and many moral choices that urgently need to be made.

5. Works on the History of Science and Technology: Works on the philosophy of science often present the fundamental theories of the discipline within a framework centered on its core issues, taking the form of "problemology." Research in the philosophy of science has seen rich developments in perspectives, systems, fields, and schools, with debates within the discipline becoming particularly prominent. Liu Dachun recognized that there was no comprehensive work on the history of the philosophy of science that could fill this gap in the broader history of philosophy and intellectual history. Therefore, he assembled an academic team and successively published two special volumes on the history of the philosophy of science: A History of General Philosophy of Science(2016), and A History of Special Philosophy of Science(2017). The two books reflect Liu Dachun's reflections on the intellectual history of the philosophy of science and technology. They integrate problemology with the history of schools of thought, combine analytical and humanistic traditions, and systematically trace the developmental history of important branches of the philosophy of science. Prior to this, China had not seen such a comprehensive historical work that consolidates the debates and intellectual evolution of issues in the philosophy of science.

In addition, in the history of scientific and technological thought, a question has perplexed scholars both in China and abroad for nearly a century. This is the famous "Needham Question": "Although ancient China made many significant contributions to the development of human science and technology, why did the Scientific and Industrial Revolution not occur in modern China?" Liu Dachun, who has always paid special attention to history, also attempted to respond to the "Needham Question" from his own perspective. Liu Dachun believes that before the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci arrived in China in 1583, Chinese and Western science and technology developed along parallel tracks. It was the arrival of the missionaries that initiated the intersection of Eastern and Western science and technology. After years of reading and thinking, Liu Dachun led the compilation of the two-volume work The Historical Trajectory and Philosophical Reflection of the Transformation of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Science and Technology. This is an academic work focusing on the transformation of modern and contemporary Chinese science and technology, spanning nearly 400 years.

The first volume, East West Learning(2018), recounts the historical events of Western science and technology being introduced to China during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, coinciding with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries. Liu Dachun refers to this as the "first wave of the eastward spread of Western learning," covering the period from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties to the stage where Western learning began to take root in the East.

The second volume, To Learn the Superior Skills from Barbarians(2019), unfolds a grand narrative spanning from the late Qing dynasty to the Republic of China era. It depicts how China, despite internal and external crises and dire circumstances, grew stronger through adversity. The work highlights how China re-examined Western science and technology, humbly learned from its rivals, and resolutely pursued the path of "learning from the West," ultimately achieving the arduous historical transformation of Chinese science, technology, and education from traditional to modern forms. Liu Dachun refers to this stage as the "second wave of the eastward spread of Western learning."

Impact

Liu Dachun's contributions to the field of philosophy have had a profound impact on both academic scholarship and public discourse. His work has helped to shape the way that scholars and policymakers think about the ethical and social implications of science and technology. Through his teaching, writing, and public engagement, Liu has inspired a new generation of philosophers to explore the complex and dynamic relationships between science, technology, and society. In recognition of his contributions, Liu has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious National Outstanding Achievement Award in Philosophy and Social Sciences. He has also been elected to several prestigious academic societies, including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the International Academy of Philosophy of Science. Liu Dachun is a towering figure in the field of philosophy, whose work has had a lasting impact on the way we think about science, technology, and society. As he continues to write, teach, and inspire Liu's legacy will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.

Related Works

Chinese

《科学活动论》刘大椿，人民出版社，1985年12月第1版

《互补方法论》, 刘大椿，世界知识出版社,1994年

《环境问题：从中日比较与合作的观点看》，刘大椿，中国人民大学出版社，1995年

《在真与善之间——科技时代的伦理问题和道德抉择》，刘大椿，中国社会科学出版社，2000年

《新学苦旅：中国科学文化兴起的历程》, 刘大椿，广西师范大学出版社，2003年

《从中心到边缘：科学、哲学、人文之反思》, 刘大椿，北京师范大学出版社，2006年

《一般科学哲学史》，刘大椿等著，中央编译出版社，2016年版

《分殊科学哲学史》，刘大椿等著，中央编译出版社，2017年版

《审度：马克思科学技术观与当代科学技术论研究》，刘大椿等著，中国人民大学出版社，2017年版

《西学东渐：中国近现代科技转型的历史轨迹与哲学反思（第一卷）》，刘大椿等著，中国人民大学出版社，2018年版

《师夷长技：中国近现代科技转型的历史轨迹与哲学反思（第二卷）》，刘大椿等著，中国人民大学出版社，2019年版

English

A Philosophical Long March: From China of the World. Liu dachun. Cogito. 1989/Vol3 No.1. P58-63.

Reconsideration of Science and Technology: A Study on Marx's View and Contemporary Thoughts. Liu Dachun et al., Routledge. 2024.

Reconsideration of Science and Technology I: Reflection on Marx’s View. Liu Dachun et al., Routledge. 2024.

Reconsideration of Science and Technology II: Scientism and Anti-Scientism. Liu Dachun et al., Routledge. 2024.

Reconsideration of Science and Technology III: An Open World. Liu Dachun et al., Routledge. 2024.

Links

中国人民大学哲学院

刘大椿个人简介

Reconsideration of Science and Technology