Knowledge Economy Era and Chinese Intellectuals

Author: Zhong Xingming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: The development of the economy and social progress in the knowledge economy era primarily depend on human knowledge, intelligence, and capabilities. The comprehensive quality and abilities of intellectuals constitute the direct and enduring driving force for the development of the knowledge society. Facing the knowledge economy era, China needs a large number of outstanding intellectuals with high comprehensive qualities and strong creative abilities. They must not only possess excellent comprehensive qualities that integrate thought, culture, professionalism, and physical and mental well-being but also have diverse abilities in understanding and mastering creativity. The current state and development trends of the knowledge economy era demand the continuous improvement of the comprehensive qualities and abilities of Chinese intellectuals.
The knowledge economy era is an era based on knowledge, the development of high technology, and the rapid advancement of the economy and social civilization. It is a rapidly developing and comprehensive era. As we step into the new millennium and stand at the pinnacle of the century, looking around the world, we will be amazed to see: a global tide of economic integration led by digital and network technology, driven by innovation, is rolling in; the knowledge economy is unveiling its mysterious veil, revealing its attractive charm. At the 2000 World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, experts frankly stated that the new century will usher in the information and network revolution and the biological gene revolution, which will greatly change the organizational structure of society and the ways of human activity and thinking, exerting a far greater impact on the development of human society than the industrial revolution of the 19th century. A silent revolution in the socio-economic form is quietly emerging worldwide. The new era puts higher and newer demands on the qualities and abilities of intellectuals. The current state and development trends of the knowledge economy require the continuous improvement of the comprehensive qualities and abilities of intellectuals.
(1) Improving the comprehensive qualities and abilities of Chinese intellectuals is necessary to adapt to the new trends of future technological development. In terms of overall development trends, future technological development will show a pattern of rapidity, agility, cross-comprehensiveness, breadth and depth, socialization, and internationalization, which places higher demands on the comprehensive qualities and abilities of intellectuals. talents with high qualities and diverse abilities are urgently needed in the knowledge economy era. First, in the knowledge economy era, the phenomenon of "knowledge explosion" is intensifying. Since World War II, the rapid development of atomic energy, biotechnology, microelectronics, and space technology has brought humanity into a brand-new era. New scientific and technological achievements, theories, and applications are dazzling and overwhelming. According to rough estimates by relevant experts, the achievements of the first 50 years of the 20th century far surpass those of the 19th century; while the research achievements of the 1960s in science and technology are even more than the total of the past two thousand years. Currently, there are over 2,000 disciplines worldwide, more than 500 major specialties in basic disciplines, and 412 specialized fields in technical sciences. Scientific literature is growing exponentially, doubling every 10–15 years, with a scientific knowledge growth rate of 12.5% in 1980. In the coming knowledge economy era, the total amount and development speed of human knowledge will be even more astonishing. Some experts estimate that in 1950, it took 50 years for the total amount of human knowledge to double, but by 2020, it will take only 73 days. The rapid development of knowledge requires knowledge