民族主义与东亚数学编史问题

分析东亚民族主义产生的背景与东亚民族主义史学观的历史根源,论述民族主义史学观支配下东亚数学国别史编纂的研究取向及其影响。认为,这些国别史都是从民族本位出发,强调本国数学的独立性与主体性,重视本民族数学的独特性与数学成就上的差别,而轻忽东亚数学的整体性与同质性。以西方数学作为参照标准,较强的辉格史倾向在为民族科学文化先进性进行辩护方面发挥重要作用,重视数学史内史研究而忽视外史研究的研究范式也为其所需要。欲消除民族主义数学史观的消极影响,就应该树立“东亚数学一体化”的观点,超越民族,从儒家文化、汉字文化的整体视角来审视东亚数学,并且对东亚数学持连续发展的观点。只有把中国、日本与韩国(还包括越南)数学作为一个整体考察,才有可能全面认识东亚数学思想、数学精神与数学知识体系。

Nationalism and East Asian Mathematical Historiography

This article analyzes the background for the emergence of nationalism and the historical origin of national historiography in East Asia,and discusses the research trend and influence of compiling the history of mathematics in a certain country subjected to national historiography.(1)From the national point of view,the independence and identity of a country are stressed.Therefore,the unique and concrete achievements of national mathematics are attached to with greater importance,and the integrity and homogeneity of mathematics in East Asia are often neglected.(2) Taking Western mathematics as a standard,the Whiggish tendency of historical research plays a vital role in defending the superiority of national scientific culture.(3) Attach importance to investigation of internal history,ignore the external history.In order to get rid of the above negative influence caused by national mathematical history,the article brings forward the viewpoint of integration of mathematics in East Asia,so that mathematics in East Asia can be looked upon as a constantly developing unity and surpassing nations,Mathematics in East Asia can be surveyed in the light of Confucian culture and even the culture of Chinese characters.So long as taking mathematics in China,Japan and Korea(including Vietnam) into account as a whole,the thought,spirit and knowledge system of mathematics in East Asia might be understood in an all-round way.