计算机时代的脑力劳动机械化与数学机械化

主要介绍了脑力劳动机械化和数学机械化的发展历史以及研究现状。17世纪以来,工业革命使人们逐渐实现了体力劳动的机械化,促进了社会生产力的发展。本世纪电子计算机的产生,则为人类实现脑力劳动的机械化创造了物质条件。在目前这一以计算机为标志的信息革命时代,数学应该有什么样的创新与之相适应呢?回顾数学发展史,主要有两种思想:一是公理化思想,另一是机械化思想。前者源于希腊,后者则贯穿整个中国古代数学。这两种思想对数学发展都曾起过巨大作用。从汉初完成的《九章算术》中对开平方、开立方的机械化过程的描述,到宋元时代发展起来的求解高次代数方程组的机械化方法,无一不与数学机械化思想有关。公理化思想在现代数学,尤其是纯粹数学中占据着统治地位。然而,其在数学上的多次重大跃进都与机械化思想有关。正是基于这种考虑,吴文俊先生倡导数学机械化研究。

Mental labor mechanization and mathematics mechanization in computer era

The history and recent research status of mental labor mechanization and mathematics mechanization are introduced. Industrial revolution makes people realize physical labor mechanization and improve social productivity since 1600's. At the beginning of this century, the appearance of electronic computer is to lay a substancial foundation for mankind to realize the mental labor mechanization. In the present information era with the appearance of the powerful tool, computer, what kind of innovation on mathematics should be in made accord with the information era? Looking back on mathematical history, there are mainly two kinds of thoughts, axiomatism thought and mechanization thought. The former has its root in Greece and the latter runs through the whole mathematical history of ancient China. The two thoughts have ever greatly contributed to the development of mathematics. The mechanization procedure of determining square root, completed in the beginning of Han dynasty and the mechanization method of solving algebraic equations system of high order, created in Song -Yuan times, are all based on the idea of mathematical mechanization. Axiomatic thought dominates the area of modern mathematics and pure mathematics. However, many important improvements on axiomatic thought in the area of mathematics owe much to the mechanization thought. Based on the above consideration, academician Wu Wentsun advocates the research on mathematical mechanization.