中国近代，自由主义作为一个舶来品，是中国近代一个十分重要的思潮。西方传来自由主义，但与中国的具体实际碰撞中，又有了具有中国特色的新内涵，它的若干基本原则，譬如个人主义、自由、平等、民主、国家学说等都潜移默化的渗透在中国近代历史进程中，对中国近代社会产生了重大影响。蔡元培作为中国近代一位重要教育家，也受自由主义的影响，在强调科学教育中渗透着自由主义，对中国近代教育做出重大贡献，影响深远。时至今日，在教育日益凸显重要性的时代，这一问题的研究具有重要的现实意义。

As an product from west, Liberalism is a very important trend of thought in modern china. In the collision with china, there is a new connotation with Chinese characteristics, and some of its basic principles such as individualism、freedom、equality、democracy、and state doctrine have been imperceptibly infiltrated in the course of Chinese modern history, which has had a great influence on modern Chinese society. Cai Yuanpei, as an important educator in modern china, also influenced by liberalism. Emphasizing the liberalism in science education, he made a great contribution to modern Chinese education and far-reaching influence. Today, in the era of increasing important of education, the study of this problem also has important practical significance.