Improving Scientific Literacy, Enhancing Decision-Making and Management Capability – A Recommendation of the *Reader on Scientific Literacy for Leading Cadres and Civil Servants* Edited by Wang Yusheng and Zhou Lijun

I. Background

一、背景

An individual’s scientific literacy is becoming increasingly important in modern society, and raising citizens’ scientific literacy has a significant impact on enhancing a country’s comprehensive national competitiveness. In February 2006, the State Council promulgated the *Outline of the National Action Plan for Scientific Literacy* (hereinafter referred to as the *Scientific Literacy Outline*), which states: “Scientific literacy is an important component of citizens’ quality. Citizens possessing basic scientific literacy generally means understanding necessary scientific and technological knowledge, mastering basic scientific methods, establishing scientific thinking, upholding the scientific spirit, and having a certain ability to apply these to handle practical problems and participate in public affairs.” [1]1 This is a direct quotation from the *Outline of the National Action Plan for Scientific Literacy* (2006), a Chinese government policy document. It also designates leading cadres and civil servants as one of the four key target populations for implementation. At the end of the same year, the Leading Group for National Scientific Literacy issued the *Implementation Plan for the Scientific Literacy Action of Leading Cadres and Civil Servants*, making specific arrangements for carrying out the scientific literacy action for leading cadres and civil servants. However, one of the difficulties faced in conducting scientific literacy training for leading cadres and civil servants is the lack of more suitable teaching materials or readers. Against this background, the Beijing Association for Science and Technology organized the compilation of the *Reader on Scientific Literacy for Leading Cadres and Civil Servants* (hereinafter referred to as the *Reader*) (edited by Wang Yusheng and Zhou Lijun). The publication of this book not only serves as a training textbook for scientific literacy for leading cadres and civil servants in Beijing but can also serve as a reference for other provinces and cities.

一个人的科学素质在现代社会中变得越来越重要，提高公民科学素质对增强国家综合竞争力有着重要影响。2006年2月，国务院颁布了《全民科学素质行动计划纲要》（以下简称《科学素质纲要》），指出：“科学素质是公民素质的重要组成部分。公民具备基本科学素质一般指了解必要的科学技术知识，掌握基本的科学方法，树立科学思想，崇尚科学精神，并具有一定的应用它们处理实际问题、参与公共事务的能力。”① 并且把领导干部和公务员列为四个重点实施人群之一。同年年底，全民科学素质领导小组颁布了《领导干部和公务员科学素质行动实施方案》，对开展领导干部和公务员科学素质行动进行了具体布置。然而，开展领导干部和公务员科学素质培训工作面临的困难之一是缺少更合适的教材或读本，在这种背景下北京市科协组织编写了《领导干部和公务员科学素质读本》（以下简称《读本》）（王渝生、周立军主编）。该书的出版不仅作为北京市领导干部和公务员科学素质培训教材，也可以供其他省市参考。

II. The Positioning of the *Reader* is Highly Targeted

二、《读本》的定位针对性强

Leading cadres and civil servants are an important force in implementing the Party’s various policies, formulating and executing government decisions, and strengthening governance capacity. The *Scientific Literacy Outline* clearly sets the development goal that “the scientific literacy of leading cadres and civil servants ranks among the forefront of all occupational groups.” Comrade Xia Qiang, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Executive Vice Chairman of the Beijing Association for Science and Technology, pointed out in the preface to the *Reader*: “Leading cadres and civil servants directly manage and participate in the country’s economic and social affairs, holding the power to decide and implement important national policies and projects, the power to macro-control resource allocation, and the power to supervise and manage economic and social operations. Therefore, the level of scientific literacy of leading cadres and civil servants directly affects the process of fully implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development, building an innovative country, and constructing a socialist harmonious society, as well as affecting the scientific and democratic nature of decision-making and the Party’s scientific, democratic, and law-based governance. At the same time, leading cadres and civil servants shoulder the important task of organizing, mobilizing, demonstrating, and driving the overall improvement of the scientific literacy of the entire population.” [2]2 This is a direct quotation from the preface to the *Reader* by Xia Qiang, a Chinese official. Therefore, improving the scientific literacy of leading cadres and civil servants is of utmost importance.

领导干部和公务员是贯彻落实党的各项方针政策，制定和执行政府各项决策，加强执政能力建设的重要力量，《科学素质纲要》明确提出了“领导干部和公务员的科学素质在各类职业人群中位居前列”的发展目标。北京市科协党组书记、常务副主席夏强同志在《读本》的序言中指出：“领导干部和公务员直接管理、参与国家的经济社会事务，掌管着国家重要政策、项目的决策与实施权力，资源配置的宏观调控权力和经济社会运行的监督管理权力。因此，领导干部和公务员的科学素质水平直接影响到全面落实科学发展观、建设创新型国家、构建社会主义和谐社会的进程，影响到决策的科学化、民主化和党的科学执政、民主执政、依法执政。同时，领导干部和公务员肩负着组织动员，示范带动全民科学素质整体提升的重任。”② 因此，提高领导干部和公务员的科学素质至关重要。

Raising the level of scientific literacy of leading cadres and civil servants is an important component of comprehensively improving the overall quality of civil servants. The 15th Session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People’s Congress passed and promulgated the *Civil Service Law of the People’s Republic of China* (hereinafter referred to as the *Civil Service Law*), which puts forward specific requirements for improving the quality and capability of civil servants. The *Civil Service Law* emphasizes that to improve management efficiency and decision-making levels, a high-quality civil service team is essential. In today’s scientific and technological society, science and technology permeate all aspects of politics, economy, and social life. The formulation and implementation of many social policies require leading cadres and civil servants to have a high level of scientific literacy. Therefore, raising the level of scientific literacy of leading cadres and civil servants is also part of implementing the *Civil Service Law*.

提高领导干部和公务员的科学素质水平，是整体提升公务员综合素质的重要组成部分。第十届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十五次会议，通过颁布了《中华人民共和国公务员法》（以下简称《公务员法》），对提高公务员的素质、能力提出了具体要求。《公务员法》强调，要提高管理效率和决策水平，必须要有一支高素质的公务员队伍。在当今科技社会，科学技术渗透到了政治、经济和社会生活的各个方面，许多社会政策的制定和实施需要领导干部和公务员具有高水平的科学素质。因此，提高领导干部和公务员的科学素质水平，也是贯彻执行《公务员法》的一部分。

III. The Content Design of the *Reader* is Close to Actual Needs

三、《读本》的内容设计贴近实际需要

The basic responsibilities of leading cadres and civil servants lie in organization, management, and decision-making. Therefore, the *Scientific Literacy Outline* particularly emphasizes the scientific decision-making and scientific management capabilities of leading cadres and civil servants. However, good scientific decision-making and scientific management capabilities need to be based on scientific knowledge and scientific thinking, and guided by scientific methods and the scientific spirit. Therefore, the *Reader* closely links to the actual work situation of leading cadres and civil servants and arranges the content of each chapter according to the following logic.

领导干部和公务员基本职责在于组织、管理和决策，因此，《科学素质纲要》特别强调了领导干部和公务员的科学决策和科学管理能力。然而，良好的科学决策和科学管理能力，需要以科学知识和科学思想为基础，需要以科学方法和科学精神为指导。因此，《读本》密切联系领导干部和公务员工作的实际情况，按照如下逻辑安排各章的内容。

First, it elaborates on the relationship between scientific literacy construction and implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development. To enhance the consciousness of leading cadres and civil servants in improving their scientific literacy, the *Reader* combines international experience, especially from developed countries, in building public scientific literacy. It elaborates on the concept and connotation of scientific literacy for Chinese citizens, analyzes the background, concepts, and measures of the *Scientific Literacy Outline*, introduces the implementation plan of the National Scientific Literacy Outline during the “12th Five-Year Plan” period [3]3 The “12th Five-Year Plan” refers to China’s national economic and social development plan for 2011–2015. and the work plan of Beijing, and, by analyzing the historical origins of the development concept, the formation process and connotation of the Scientific Outlook on Development, and the relationship between implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development and national scientific literacy, clearly states that improving the scientific literacy of leading cadres and civil servants is the key to implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development and is an unshirkable responsibility for leading cadres and civil servants.

首先，阐述了科学素质建设与落实科学发展观的关系。为了使广大领导干部和公务员增强提高科学素质的自觉性，《读本》结合国际上尤其是发达国家公众科学素质建设的经验，阐述了我国公民科学素质的概念和内涵，分析了《科学素质纲要》产生的背景、理念和措施，介绍了“十二五”期间国家科学素质纲要实施方案以及北京市的工作规划，并从剖析发展观的历史渊源、科学发展观的形成过程和内涵以及落实科学发展观与全民科学素质的关系等方面，明确提出提高领导干部和公务员的科学素质是落实科学发展观的关键，是广大领导干部和公务员义不容辞的责任。

Second, it highlights the leading position of the scientific spirit in scientific literacy construction. The *Reader* uses rich content to elaborate on the initial dissemination of the concept of the scientific spirit in China (for example, Ren Hongjun believed the scientific spirit was the pursuit of truth, Liang Qichao believed it was “the method for obtaining systematic true knowledge,” and Zhu Kezhen believed it was “only concerned with right and wrong, not gains and losses”) [4]4 Ren Hongjun (1886–1961), Liang Qichao (1873–1929), and Zhu Kezhen (1890–1974) were influential Chinese intellectuals and scientists who wrote about the scientific spirit in the early 20th century. and its subsequent enrichment and development. It analyzes foreign scholars’ understanding of the scientific spirit and, on this basis, proposes that the basic connotation of the scientific spirit includes five aspects: the spirit of seeking truth from facts, the spirit of exploration and innovation, the spirit of rational criticism, the spirit of equality and tolerance, and the spirit of dedication and contribution.

其次，突出了科学精神在科学素质建设中的统领地位。《读本》以丰富的内容阐述了科学精神概念在我国最初的传播（例如，任鸿隽认为科学精神是探求真理，梁启超认为是“求得有系统之真知识的方法”，竺可桢认为是“只问是非，不计利害”）以及后来的丰富和发展，分析了国外学者对科学精神的理解，并在此基础上提出了科学精神的基本内涵包括五个方面，即，唯实求真精神、探索创新精神、理性批判精神、平等宽容精神和敬业奉献精神。

To help readers deeply understand the essence of the scientific spirit, distinguish truth from falsehood in complex social situations, and consciously guide their work practice with the scientific spirit, the *Reader* not only deeply elaborates on the harm of pseudoscience and the standards and methods for distinguishing science from pseudoscience but also systematically sorts out the historical struggle process and complex relationship between science and pseudoscience. It reveals the complexity of pseudoscientific phenomena and the reasons for their prevalence, pointing out that the fight against pseudoscience is a long-term arduous task, and that scientific progress does not automatically make various witchcraft, superstitions, and pseudoscientific phenomena disappear. Although scientific progress can shake the foundations of old superstitions and pseudoscientific phenomena, it also makes people aware of various new possibilities, creating living space for the emergence of new superstitions and pseudosciences. If people only know the magical conclusions and results of science, do not understand the methods of scientific research, and do not critically examine various so-called “new things” with the scientific spirit, they will inevitably fall into the clutches of new superstitions and pseudoscience.

为了帮助读者深刻理解科学精神的精髓，能够在复杂的社会情境中辨别真伪，做到自觉地以科学精神指导自己的工作实践，《读本》不但深入地阐述了伪科学的危害以及辨别科学与伪科学的标准与方法，而且比较系统地梳理了历史上科学与伪科学的斗争过程和复杂关系，揭示了伪科学现象的复杂性及其流行的原因，指出反伪科学斗争是一项长期的艰巨任务，科学的进步并不能自觉地使各种巫术、迷信和伪科学现象自动消失。科学的进步虽然可以动摇旧的迷信和伪科学现象的根基，但是它同时也使人们认识到各种新的可能性，为新的迷信和伪科学的产生创造了生存空间。如果人们只知道科学的神奇结论和结果，不了解科学研究的方法，不用科学精神批判性地看待种种所谓的“新事物”，必然会落入新的迷信和伪科学的魔掌。

Third, it emphasizes the core position of scientific thinking and scientific methods. The *Reader* briefly discusses the meaning, function, and development process of scientific thinking. It emphasizes that scientific thinking is the general conceptual framework and ideological foundation that guides the establishment of scientific hypotheses and theories in scientific cognitive activities, and is the basic concept about the existence and development of nature and human society, such as material unity, motion, evolution, contingency and necessity, system, model, sustainable development, etc. Scientific thinking determines the direction of scientific development; the emergence of each new scientific thought will open up a new scientific field. The *Reader* states: “Scientific thinking not only helps people establish a correct view of nature but also helps people establish a correct worldview.” [5]5 This is a direct quotation from the *Reader* itself. Scientific thinking is an important part of social culture, an ideological foundation for analyzing social phenomena and solving social problems, and a powerful weapon to resist various modern superstitions and pseudosciences.

第三，强调了科学思想和科学方法的核心地位。《读本》对科学思想的含义、作用和发展过程进行简要地论述，它强调科学思想是人们在科学认识活动中，指导科学假说和科学理论建立的一般概念框架和理念基础，是关于自然界和人类社会存在和发展的基本观念，如物质统一性、运动、演化、偶然与必然、系统、模型、可持续发展等。科学思想决定着科学的发展方向，每一个新的科学思想的产生，将开辟一个新的科学领域。《读本》“科学思想不仅帮助人们树立正确的自然观，而且帮助人们树立正确的世界观”③ 科学思想是社会文化的重要组成部分，是分析社会现象和解决社会问题的思想基础，是抵制各种现代迷信和伪科学的有力武器。

The *Reader* also devotes considerable space to discussing the connotation and importance of scientific methods, as well as observation and experimental methods, social investigation methods, systems methods, and innovation methods. Scientific methods are not only tools for scientists to solve scientific problems, acquire new knowledge, and discover natural truths, but also the core content for the public to understand science and improve scientific literacy. The famous French scientist Laplace, when discussing Newton’s important discoveries such as universal gravitation, pointed out: “To recognize the research methods of a genius is no less beneficial for the progress of science, and even for his own honor, than the discovery itself. The methods of scientific research are often the most interesting part.” [6]6 Pierre-Simon Laplace, *A Philosophical Essay on Probabilities*, translated from the 6th French edition by Frederick Wilson Truscott and Frederick Lincoln Emory (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1902), p. 176. The translation here follows the Chinese text’s rendering. Mastering appropriate scientific methods can help scientists avoid detours in their scientific research. In Pavlov’s words, “With good methods, even a person of no great talent can achieve many accomplishments.” Only when the public understands the specific methods of scientific research can they correctly recognize the process of scientific discovery, comprehend the preconditions, logical reasoning, and scope of application for reaching scientific conclusions, and understand the value, uncertainty, and limitations of a scientific achievement. This enables them to respect rather than worship scientific conclusions, use scientific methods and procedures to solve problems encountered in work and life, examine various new phenomena emerging in society, and avoid becoming victims of new superstitions and pseudoscience. The *Reader* also introduces commonly used social investigation methods, systems methods, and innovation methods in light of the practical needs of leading cadres and civil servants, providing a scientific method foundation for improving their scientific decision-making and scientific management capabilities.

《读本》还较多的篇幅论述了科学方法的内涵和重要性、观察和实验方法、衬会调查方法、系统方法和创新方法。科学方法不仅科学家解决科学问题、获得新知识和发现自然真理的工具，同时也是公众理解科学，提高科学素质的核心内容。法国著名科学家拉普拉斯在论述到牛顿关于万有引力等重要发现时指出：“认识一位天才的研究方法，对于科学的进步，甚至对于他本人的荣誉，并不比发现本身更少好处。科学研究的方法经常是极富兴趣的部分。”科学家掌握合适的科学方法可以避免他们在科学研究少走弯路，用巴甫洛夫的话来说是，“有了良好的方法，即使没有多大才干的人也能做出许多成就”；公众了解了科学研究的具体方法才能正确认识科学发现的过程，理解得出科学结论前提条件、逻辑推理和适用范围，认识一项科学成果的价值、不确定性和局限性，做到尊重而不是崇拜科学的结论，用科学的方法和程序解决工作和生活中面临的问题，审视社会中出现的种种新现象，避免成为各种新迷信和伪科学的受害者。《读本》还结合领导干部和公务员的实际需要，介绍了常用的社会调查方法、系统方法和创新方法，为他们提高科学决策和科学管理水平提供科学方法基础。

Fourth, in combination with the practical work characteristics of leading cadres and civil servants, it prominently emphasizes scientific decision-making and scientific management capabilities. Scientific decision-making and scientific management are basic competencies that leading cadres and civil servants should possess, and are important aspects reflecting their level of scientific literacy. Only when leading cadres and civil servants possess rich scientific knowledge, adhere to the scientific spirit, and consciously apply scientific methods to decision-making and management work can they truly achieve scientific decision-making and scientific management. Therefore, the *Reader* also briefly discusses, in response to the special needs of leading cadres and civil servants, the basic theories, procedures, methods, and support systems of scientific decision-making, the basic principles and methods of scientific management, and the national and regional science and technology strategic plans, thereby promoting an overall improvement in scientific decision-making and scientific management levels through enhancing scientific literacy.

第四，结合领导干部和公务员的实际工作特点，突出强调科学决策和科学管理能力。科学决策和科学管理是领导干部和公务员应具备的基本能力，是体现其科学素质水平的重要方面。领导干部和公务员只有具备丰富的科学知识，坚持科学精神，将科学方法自觉运用到决策和管理工作中，才能真正做到科学决策和科学管理。因此，《读本》还针对领导干部和公务员的特殊需求，简要地论述了科学决策的基本理论、程序、方法和支持系统，科学管理的基本原理和方法，以及国家和本地区的科技战略规划，通过提高科学素质水平促进科学决策和科学管理水平的整体提升。

Fifth, understand the development history and frontier dynamics of science and technology, and grasp the laws governing the transfer of world scientific activity centers. By studying the development history and frontier dynamics of science and technology, leading cadres and civil servants can not only learn many specific scientific concepts, theories, and methods and acquire rich scientific and technological knowledge, but more importantly, they can recognize the status and role of science and technology in promoting the development of human civilization, understand the social conditions required for the development of science and technology, grasp the laws and trends of scientific and technological development, comprehend the importance of modern science and technology for national economic sustainable development and national defense security, and enhance their historical sense of responsibility and mission for the development of the nation’s science and technology. Currently, a country’s scientific and technological strength directly affects its comprehensive competitiveness. Understanding the laws governing the transfer of world scientific activity centers helps leading cadres and civil servants view the relationship between the level of scientific and technological development and national strength from a historical perspective and a global vision, recognize that to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, a strong scientific and technological foundation is essential, and ensure that in their work they consciously implement national science and technology development plans, encourage scientific and technological innovation, respect knowledge, respect talent, and better serve the construction of our country as an innovative nation by improving the level of scientific decision-making and management.

第五，理解科技发展历程和前沿动态，了解世界科学活动中心的转移规律。通过学习科学技术的发展历程和前沿动态，领导干部和公务员不仅可以了解许多具体的科学概念、理论和方法，掌握丰富的科技知识，更重要的是认识科学技术在促进人类文明发展中的地位和作用，了解科学技术发展所需的社会条件，掌握科学技术发展的规律和趋势，理解现代科技对国家经济可持续发展和国防安全的重要性，增强领导干部和公务员为国家科技事业发展的历史责任感和使命感。当前一个国家的科技实力直接影响到其综合竞争力，认识世界科学活动中心的转移规律，有助于广大领导干部和公务员以历史的视角和全球的视野看待科学技术发展水平与国家强盛之间的关系，认识到要实现中华民族的伟大复兴必须要以强大的科技实力为基础，做到在工作中自觉地贯彻落实国家有关科技发展规划，鼓励科技创新，尊重知识，尊重人才，通过提高科学决策和管理水平更好地服务于我国创新型国家建设。

Sixth, cultivate a scientific and healthy lifestyle. Leading cadres and civil servants generally face high work pressure, are in a state of mental tension and overload work for long periods, lack physical exercise, have a relatively high proportion of bad habits such as smoking and drinking, and have a significantly higher proportion of sub-health status compared to other occupational groups. Therefore, enabling leading cadres and civil servants to understand the basic knowledge of scientific and healthy living and to pay attention to physical and mental health helps improve their work efficiency and better perform their duties.

第六，养成科学健康的生活方式。领导干部和公务员一般工作压力比较大，长期处于精神高度紧张、超负荷工作状态，缺乏体育锻炼，有吸烟和饮酒等不良习惯的比例比较高，处于亚健康状态的比例也明显高于其他职业群体。因此，让领导干部和公务员了解科学健康生活的基本知识，重视身心健康，有助于提高他们的工作效率，更好地做好本职工作。

Finally, the *Reader* includes the *Outline of the National Scheme for Scientific Literacy (2006-2010-2020)* as Appendix I, for leading cadres and civil servants to comprehensively understand the national plan for citizens’ scientific literacy construction; and includes the *Outline of the Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone Development Plan (2011-2020)* as Appendix II, highlighting local characteristics.

最后，《读本》把《全民科学素质行动计划纲要（2006-2010-2020）》作为附录一，供广大领导干部和公务员全面了解国家公民科学素质建设规划；把《中关村国家自主创新示范区发展规划纲要（2011-2020）》作为附录二，突出了地方性特色。

In summary, the *Scientific Literacy Reader for Leading Cadres and Civil Servants*, edited by Wang Yusheng and Zhou Lijun, with its accurate positioning and closeness to the practical needs of leading cadres and civil servants, provides an important reference book for conducting scientific literacy training for leading cadres and civil servants, especially in the Beijing region.

总之，王渝生、周立军主编的《领导干部和公务员科学素质读本》，以其准确的定位和贴近领导干部和公务员的实际需要，为开展领导干部和公务员科学素质培训尤其是北京地区的领导干部和公务员科学素质培训提供了重要的参考书。

Notes:

注释：

① *Outline of the National Scheme for Scientific Literacy*, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2006 edition, p. 1.

①《全民科学素质行动计划纲要》，北京：人民出版社，2006年版，第1页。

② Wang Yusheng and Zhou Lijun, eds., *Scientific Literacy Reader for Leading Cadres and Civil Servants*, Beijing: Popular Science Press, 2011 edition, preface.

② 王渝生、周立军主编：《领导干部和公务员科学素质读本》，北京：科学普及出版社，2011年版，序。

③ Wang Yusheng and Zhou Lijun, eds., *Scientific Literacy Reader for Leading Cadres and Civil Servants*, Beijing: Popular Science Press, 2011 edition, p. 80.

③ 王渝生、周立军主编：《领导干部和公务员科学素质读本》，北京：科学普及出版社，2011年版，第80页。

④ Sun Xiaoli, ed., *Ten Major Relationships in Scientific Methods*, Shanghai: Xuelin Publishing House, 2004 edition, p. 5.

④ 孙小礼主编：《科学方法中的十大关系》，上海：学林出版社，2004年版，第5页。

Online editor: Jia Fei

网络编辑：嘉扉

*Science and Atheism* Issue 1, 2012

《科学与无神论》 2012年第1期