西方文明中發展科學的原動力來自基督教文化，
但自從科學脫離了宗教而獨立之後，
科學的原動力就來自滿足人類的慾望。
那麼，科學可以滿足人類那些慾望呢？
The process of acquiring knowledge (at all its levels)
and the contemplation and enjoyment of it
is turning out to be one of the richest sources
of esthetic raptures, of semireligious ecstasies,
of experiences of awe and mystery. Such emotional
experiences are among the ultimate joys of living.
(Abraham H. Maslow, 1966)
1. 好奇心 insatiable curiosity
關於好奇心這一點，Abraham H. Maslow 曾經指出：
Children do not have to be taught to be curious.
But they may be taught, as by institutionalization,
not to be curious.
Scientists are peeping Toms at the key-hole of eternity.
( Arthur Koestler )
2. 認知慾 cognitive needs
Science provided us the first close glimpse
of the profundity of human ignorance.
( Lewis Thomas )
Between absolute ignorance and absolute wisdom,
there is a place for knowledge and for progress.
( Andre Comte-Sponville )
What I see in nature is a magnificent structure
that we can comprehend only very imperfectly,
and that must fill a thinking person with
a feeling of humility.
( Albert Einstein, 1954-1955 )
The only wisdom we can hope to acquire
Is the wisdom of humility : humility is endless.
( T. S. Eliot )
3. 抽象的美感 aesthetic needs
例如簡潔 simplicity、對稱 symmetry，秩序 order、
圓滿 completion…..
4. 追求真理的慾望 the passion and search for truth
除了追求知識之外，
科學假設了物質世界的背後，有普遍性的真理存在。
科學又假設了人類可以「理解」真理，可以逐步迫近真理。
The striving for knowledge and the search for truth
are still the strongest motives for scientific discovery.
( Karl Popper, 1959 )
5. 對自然界的控制 power over nature
The desire that guides me in all I do
is the desire to harness the forces of nature
to the service of mankind.
( Nikola tesla )
人類不單止想瞭解自然界，更想控制它。
中國古代的荀子就曾經提出過「制天命而用之」的思想。
如果現實不符合我們的意願，
那麼我們會問：是否必須如此？是否可以改變？
有甚麼是我們可以做的？有甚麼地方我們可以改進？
6. 拓荒者的精神 the spirit of a pioneer
7. 對其他民族的控制：戰爭 warfare
不少科學研究和科技的發展，都和戰爭及武器有關。
各國政府在這方面投下的資源，大大促進了科學和科技的發展。
The search for knowledge is as old as
the history of mankind. With the beginning
of social grouping and the use of tools
for richer satisfaction of daily needs,
the desire to know arose,
since knowledge is indispensible for
control of the objects of our environment
so as to make them our servants.
( H. Reichenbach, 1968 )
現代戰爭，就是利用科學原理及先進科技去製造殺人的武器。
8. 人類畢竟是生活在「名利權的世界」
絕大部份人類，畢竟是生活在「名利權的世界」，
科學家和科技人員亦不會例外，所以科學發展的原動力，
亦來自科學家和科技人員的個人的名譽 fame，權力 power，
經濟 financial security 等各方面的考慮和利益。
9. 科學，當然亦可以成為某些人的「避難所」Refuge
Personally I am inclined to agree with Schopenhauer
in thinking that one of the strongest motives that
lead people to dedicate their lives to art and science
is the urge to flee from everyday life, with its
painful harshness and wretched dreariness, and
from the fetters of one’s own ever shifting desires.
( Albert Einstein, 1918 )
Any area in life may be used as a compulsive neurosis:
philosophy may be a flight from reality into a
harmonious “system” as a protection from the anxiety
and disharmonies of day-to-day life or it may be
a courageous endeavor to understand reality better.
Science may be used as a rigid, dogmatic faith
by which one escapes emotional insecurity and doubt,
or it may be an open-minded search for new truth.
( Rollo May, 1953 )