试论中国古代科学的社会文化史研究.docVIP

试论中国古代科学的社会、文化史研究Abstract: How can the study of the history of ancient Chinese science be carried on further? Inspired by the “Needham question”, this essay argues that, if research focuses switch from the negative question “why modern science did not happen in China” to the positive question “why China was more efficient in applying knowledge about nature to human needs”, then we can develop social and culturally oriented studies of Chinese science. Such studies will no longer be limited to “investigations of scientific facts”, but will investigate many problems concerning the relations betwe