s****s
发帖数: 4 | 1 The role played by science in human being's development is obvious, and
China's lack of it, especially in modern times is puzzling. But once you
take a deeper look at some scientific developments in recent history,
including those in early twentith century in both China and Japan, the
importance of leading figures immediately manifest itself.
One might argue the importance of "tradition". But so called "tradition" is
essentially another expression for dominant leading figures, its community
and its continuity. Obviously the continuity of the leading figure and his
community depends on the social environment. Some hinder the continuity,
while others stimulate it. One can find numerous examples in history where
certain social environment destroys an excellent "tradition" or community,
while others stimulate or even simply take over the leading figure and its
community from other places.
Obviously there can be only two sources to generate leading figures : born
locally or trained in another community.
Let's look at China and Japan. Culturally they are very close, but
scientifically they diverged from early to mid twentieth century. Obviously
the social environment of China hinders the continuity of any leading figure
and its continuity after 30's and prior 80's even if there exists one. So
we'll look at period prior 30's or even 40's. One will notice lots of
similaries in both countries' scientific community which is manifested in no
better places than the area of physics and mathematics.
In early twentieth century both countries realized the importance of science
, and both countries did not have any existing leading figure or community
in these fields. Whence the only way to generate a leading figure and set up
a community in these fields is to train somebody in another eslablished
community. Europe was dominant in any scientific field at that time,
especially Germany.
Both countries sent lots of students to Europe. The result was obvious and
leading figures were generated almost immediately. For Japan, in physics, it
was Nishina (as in Klein-Nishina), in mathematics, it was Takagi (as in
class field theory). For China, in physics, it was Peng (as in Born-Peng)
and Huang (as in Born-Huang), in mathematics, it was Chern (as in
differential geometry), Chow (as in algebraic geometry) and Hua (as in
number theory). But both countries diverged quickly due to the dramatic
changes in social environment. Some were imposed externally, some were self-
imposed.
Japan had a relative stable domestic social environment before it went on a
route of self destruction. Nishina went back from Germany and quickly
established a physical community. Under his leadership, there were born
people like Yukawa and Tomonaga who acted as next generation leaders and
continued the community even after the self destruction of the country. One
can say a "tradition" or community was born at that time. Similarly Takagi
went back and established a mathematical community where there were born
people like Taniyama and Shimura (and lots of others).
China, on the contrary, very quickly developed a very chaotic social
environment due to both external and internal factors. Peng and Huang only
went back after the foreigners were driven away and the country was reunited
. But the later domestic social environment hindered their development even
though both made further contributions in their respective field. Chern and
Chow went back and then moved to US due to the chaotic environment. Hua only
went back in 50's and again the domestic social environment hindered his
further development even though he played a leading role in domestic
mathematics.
The difference between Japan and China after 50's was that in Japan, there
were still leaders who could continue playing their leading role and train
the next generation of talents, the community maintained the continuity.
While in China, there were some leaders, but their leading role was
compromised, they couldn't effectively develop the next generation of
talents. The community was almost non-existent and the continuity didn't
exist.
Fortunately the social environment of current China is completely changed.
The only missing piece is the leader figure and the community. But I believe
it's just a matter of time for the appearance of giant leaders. When that
happens, the development of science in China will be no less than any other
country in histry.
The young peope who are determined to do research in science should maintain
their curiosity, build up self confidence, and learn from some leading
figures. All these factors are very important. Unless you are a self-taught
talent like Dirac or Einstein, a leading figure will help you mature in
researching and looking at things from a correct angle. Curiosity can
maintain your drive and continuity. Self-confidence can help you grow, put
things in perspective and overcome potential seemingly "insurmountable"
difficulties on the road. When you look at those "giants" past research, you
should be able to have the maturity and curiosity to marvel at the master
pieces, but should also have the confidence to act like XiangYu when he saw
the QinErShi. | l****y
发帖数: 4773 | 2 没全看完，不过俺觉得中国时运不济，落后追赶时恰好赶上山河破碎的年代。好不容易
稳定几年，又赶上政治运动，其间恰好是数学翻天覆地蓬勃发展的阶段，又被拉下一截。
其实毛子和鬼子都是极具借鉴价值的。毛子稍早鬼子稍晚。毛子出了巨星级人物，形成
学派，概率kolmogorov，表示论的gelfand，都是引领时代的群体。鬼子数论代数几何
蓬勃发展的时代也是战后重建的20年，紧跟潮流，运气也好眼光也罢，到今天仍能独立
于欧美自成独到一派。
值得借鉴是因为两国数学蒸蒸日上的阶段，反倒不是物质极大丰富的阶段。而我们国家
人才辈出的年代，也是30-40年代及文革结束后一段。华老这代人，冒着鬼子轰炸钻研
数学。文革后的早期大学生，见到一本数学分析书都如获至宝。种种原因，我们的人才
反复断代，如今数学自己也进入一个瓶颈期，而数学前沿更是有如天堑了。
说到底，数学秩序也像世界秩序一样，毛子鬼子后发而挤进列强俱乐部，然后门就暂时
关上了。想再挤进去一个，唯有举国数学人与子偕作了。
朝闻道，夕死可矣，然风流总被雨打风吹去。 | L*******t
发帖数: 2385 | 3 赞见解赞文采。。
截。
【在 l****y 的大作中提到】
: 没全看完，不过俺觉得中国时运不济，落后追赶时恰好赶上山河破碎的年代。好不容易
: 稳定几年，又赶上政治运动，其间恰好是数学翻天覆地蓬勃发展的阶段，又被拉下一截。
: 其实毛子和鬼子都是极具借鉴价值的。毛子稍早鬼子稍晚。毛子出了巨星级人物，形成
: 学派，概率kolmogorov，表示论的gelfand，都是引领时代的群体。鬼子数论代数几何
: 蓬勃发展的时代也是战后重建的20年，紧跟潮流，运气也好眼光也罢，到今天仍能独立
: 于欧美自成独到一派。
: 值得借鉴是因为两国数学蒸蒸日上的阶段，反倒不是物质极大丰富的阶段。而我们国家
: 人才辈出的年代，也是30-40年代及文革结束后一段。华老这代人，冒着鬼子轰炸钻研
: 数学。文革后的早期大学生，见到一本数学分析书都如获至宝。种种原因，我们的人才
: 反复断代，如今数学自己也进入一个瓶颈期，而数学前沿更是有如天堑了。
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