strength|Strength of cultures: East and West

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SPEAKING at the Third Joint Meeting of the Chinese Physics Societies held in Hong Kong recently, Nobel Laureate Prof Yang Chen-ning talked in particular about how Chinese culture — or Eastern cultures in general — would affect the development of science in the 21st century. To him, the issue will be an extremely complex one.

On the one hand, Eastern societies traditionally value education and family ties, attaching great importance to the upbringing of their young.

Among scientists and technologists worldwide, said Prof Yang, those of Asian origin would undoubtedly emerge as a vital contigent with their distinctive contributions to the rapid advancements in high technologies.

On the other hand, Eastern people differ from Westerners in some cultural traits, Prof Yang pointed out. For example, physicists in the United States are generally bolder in putting forward fresh views and challenging existing authorities.

And almost all scientists there are "aggressive", said the Nobel Laureate. The epithet has no Chinese equivalent, he noted, probably because "aggressive" ways and attitudes are missing in Chinese culture.

The nearest translation of the English word would mean, roughly of course, "radical" or "offensive" to the Chinese mind. It could also be construed as a term describing the way a bold and enterprising person acts.

At the threshold of the 21st century, Singaporeans would do well to grasp both the strengths and weaknesses of the Eastern and Western cultures.

As a newly-emerging nation in Asia, Singapore is characterised with multiracialism and influenced by Western culture and technology. Hence the particular need for an in-depth understanding of the cultural divergence and compatibility between East and West.

The strength of the Eastern tradition, as pinpointed by Prof Yang, lies in its emphasis on education and family ties. That explains why numerous talented Asians have been brought up in the fields of science and technology.

For thousands of years the values of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honour as advocated in Confucianism have well taken root in Eastern societies. Definitely this is a worthy tradition.

Yet, to adapt to the coming new era, shouldn"t we re-define and re-interpret our time-honoured tradition and values?

For example, our experiences over the past years show that, in Singapore as well as in the West, one is tends to suffer disdvantages while emphasising modesty and generosity.

That is because we are competing with academics brought up in the Western tradition, who are good at projecting their fortes to the fullest.

What is immodesty in the Eastern ethics has thus become an advantage in reality. So there is some merit in the Western way — one can hardly survive, let alone thrive, without highlighting one"s own achievements and potentials.

Then, is the Eastern ethics entirely incompatible with today"s high-tech society? The answer is "No", because many factors besides individuals" intelligence are necessary for advancements or breakthroughs in science and technology. 123※本文作者：佚名※

In particular, given the advanced IT and diversified management systems, co-operation and co-ordination within a community are becoming crucial for success.

One classic example is the Jewish people with their various achievements resulting from their unity and mutual help in addition to their abilities, thanks to the distinctive heritage of their religion and culture.

This has contributed greatly to the Jewish people"s success in science and financial fields.

Likewise, Eastern societies generally treasure the wellbeing of the family and, by extension, that of the nation and the state. So the Chinese have been taught to emulate their ancient role models who would gladly be the first to bear hardships before everybody else and the last to enjoy comforts.

Therefore, it is imperative for Singapore to ensure that cultures of East and West complement each other for its own good, since a "rootless" society would be in great peril.

Nevertheless, Singaporeans should learn the "aggressiveness" and other strengths from the West to complement their own fine Eastern tradition, as suggested by Prof Yang.

Then we can hope to score even more and greater achievements in the coming century.

(The author is visiting professor of physics at NUS and member of Chinese Newspapers Resource Panel. Translated by Allen Zhuang)

东西文化的“长”与“短”

● 潘国驹
前几天在香港召开的第三届全球华人物理学大会上，诺贝尔奖得主杨振宁教授在他的发言中特别谈到了21世纪中华文化（或东方文化）在科学领域内将起到什么作用时，认为这是一个极为复杂的问题。

一方面东方社会，传统上重视教育，同时也有强烈的家庭观念。在这个基础上，子女的教育显得异常重要。

对日新月异的高科技发展，亚裔人士无疑将继续成为科技界的重要一群，并做出贡献。

另一方面，杨教授认为西方传统与东方传统有不同的内涵，他提出在美国的物理学界，会比较勇敢提出新的看法，敢于挑战学术权威。

而且他认为几乎所有的科学家们都很“aggressive”。他说“aggressive”并没有中文译词，这说明在中国文化内没有类似“aggressive”的作风或态度。

如果我们勉强地解释，其中文意思为激进、攻击性。也许可以概括为个人奋斗的威猛作风。

面对21世纪的来临，了解东西方文化的优点和缺点，对新加坡社会有很大的意义。

新加坡是亚洲的新兴国家，多元种族，再加上深受西方文化及科技的冲击，我们更应全面深入了解东西方文化的区别，分歧以及它们之间的融汇性。

正如杨教授提出，东方传统重视教育，强调家庭观念，这是东方文化的优点，因此我们不断地培养，造就了许多科技人才。

儒家思想也提倡礼义廉耻，这种思想有几千年的历史，在东方社会根深蒂固。无疑这是优良的传统，但在21世纪我们是否应为“礼义廉耻”及其有关的传统作新的定位？新的诠释？

从近年的经验，我们深深地体验到无论在西方社会或在新加坡过于谦虚、礼让会吃许多亏。

因为我们面对的竞争者是受西方的传统教育的学者，他们一个特点是尽量宣扬本身的长处。

在东方人看来是不谦虚的作法，从现实结果看，西方的作风是占优势，不突出自己的成就，就不能生存，也不能发挥本身的才华。

东方伦理是否全部不符合现代高科技社会？答案是否定的。取得成就，对科技有突破，除了个人的智慧才华外，还需要多种因素。

尤其是资讯发达，管理多样化的情况下，更需要社群的合作与协调。 123※本文作者：佚名※

最典型的例子是犹太人的成就，除了个人的能力，犹太人在传统的宗教和文化的熏陶下都比较团结与合作。

这个因素对犹太人在科技、金融等领域取得很大的成就有着密切的关系。

东方社会传统上除了家庭观念外，也非常重视国家、民族的利益，所谓“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐”，这种思想是应该肯定的。

东西文化的相互配合是目前新加坡社会的一个重要课题，没有“根”的社会是极为危险的。

不过，正如杨振宁教授所讲的，除了保留东方优良传统之外，也应注意注入西方“aggressive”精神及其他优点。

这样在21世纪中，我们将会取得更多更大的成就。

•作者为华文报咨询团成员、国大物理系兼任教授

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