Contemplating in the Wind

Author: Wang Qian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Many people believe that science and technology are simply the sum of things like relativity, atomic bombs, DNA, and the internet. This understanding is narrow. Science and technology should also encompass a spirit, a cultural concept, and a philosophical foundation that prevents their misuse. Contemplating in tranquility amidst the wind is a state of mind. This state of mind is not only found in nature. The various "winds" of the human world can also make people dizzy. At such times, contemplating amidst the wind has a different flavor. In recent years, many things in society have become "trends," such as the trend of going abroad, the trend of stock trading, the trend of selling health products, the trend of setting up "tutoring classes," and the trend of opening internet cafes. These "winds" may have started with some people's intentional actions, but as more people blindly followed, they gradually formed a trend, growing stronger and stronger, causing people to be swept away and floating along without knowing where they would end up. Ironically, science and technology, which are often characterized by objectivity, calmness, and rationality, are also frequently used as tools to amplify these trends. People believe in certain "miracle cures" because advertisements heavily emphasize their "scientific" basis. People pursue luxurious lifestyles because they can experience the charm of high technology. New scientific terms that are half-understood and technologically innovative products, which change constantly, attract many people, leading them to chase after them, moving from east to west, unaware that they are caught in the tide and far from true science. When these waves of trends rise one after another, only by calming down and thinking deeply can one truly perceive the existence and intensity of these social trends, as well as their clamor and absurdity. This is no less than contemplating the relationship between humans and nature amidst howling winds. In fact, perceiving and contemplating these social trends is even harder. Because in society, one must not be swept away by the wind while still recognizing the trends, one must cultivate a skill that allows them to be both part of the world and above it. Years of philosophical training and a career that allows me to think about "strange" issues while teaching have given me the opportunity to contemplate the nature, direction, and consequences of these social trends amidst the wind. I can think, therefore I am. After several years, my contemplation amidst the wind has yielded some results. The essays collected in this volume are some of my recent reflections. My philosophical thinking is often related to science and technology, so my focus is often on the social trends that arise with the rise of science and technology. This is actually an examination of scientific culture. Many people believe that science and technology are simply the sum of things like relativity, atomic bombs, DNA, and the internet. This understanding is very narrow. Science and technology should also encompass a spirit, a cultural concept, and a philosophical foundation that prevents their misuse. It is precisely because many people ignore this foundation that scientific achievements, scientific knowledge, and even scientific terms become detached and become tools to amplify trends. Therefore, one of the main purposes of contemplating amidst the wind is to reclaim this foundation, using scientific rationality to curb the various trends that make people dizzy and restore a clear and steady mindset. The ecological environment of culture also needs to be carefully protected. May more people engage in contemplation amidst the wind, gradually becoming a common sight in the world that is not surprised by the "strange."