1920年代 中國에서 ‘玄學’과 ‘科學’ 論爭

Abstract

In the early of the 20th century, the Chinese paid quite a little attention to science and science obtained the status of ‘Absolute Majesty’ in the period of New Cultural Movement, and such respect for science was a trend at that time. Thus, it was almost impossible to criticize science in public, so called, as the age of 'almighty science'. But, Chang Chun Mai criticized such a stream and it raised hot dispute, which is called ‘Science and View of life’, or ‘Dispute of KeXuan(科玄)’. Finally, the dispute ended with the victory of the Science party, but the point of the dispute remains unsettled still today. Chinese intellectuals in 1920 were employed in reform or revolution, which had scientism prevalent. Scientism made people respect the capacity of science and further itself a new religion of the thinking world. After that, science became a pronoun of Marxian historical materialism, and Marxism was accepted and respected by the people as science. In addition, people kept accepted Marxian view of world and history as their guideline of life. It might be what the Science party could not expect. For Ting Wen Chiang and Hu Shih who had blind faith in science without accepting any introspection and criticism, the dispute of KeXuan was finally the start of disaster. Establishment of China in harmony of science and democracy Hu Shih longed for ended in an empty prayer, while Chang Chun Mai's expectation was surprisingly proved true, that is, sticking to science would cause materialism, a class war, and social revolution. History proved that the Science party in China won the dispute, but it was impossible to prove that science can solve the matter related to the view of life. The matter and basic point the Xuanxue(玄學) party raised was much more logical and applicable to the modern 20th century than the Science party's optimism and determinism. The dispute of KeXuan questioned East Asian modernity which excessively modeled after and followed the West. Modernity does not have to be Westernization, nor to be anti-tradition. It is time to reflect the modernity packed with instrumental reason. After the dispute, the Xuanxue party members were developed into Modern Confucian scholars. They admitted that science has an effect on understanding and reconstructing the nature and improvement of human survival environment. But, they suggested scientific concept out of its role and the mechanistic view of the universe will stop people from pursuing the meaning of existence and moral value. Modern New Confucianism understands that the work of philosophy is not to supply certain knowledge, but improve human soul and its stage of life. In addition, it recognizes humans as an ethical subject and tried to have human beings be humane. It means the state that science and Xuanxue, reason and emotion, the West and East, and tradition and modernity are all in harmony.