Time, Science, and Society in China and the West: The Study of Time V

For the first fifteen centuries of Western civilization, the Chinese were far ahead of Europe in applying their knowledge of nature to useful purposes. Why, then, did modern mathematized science, with all its implications for advanced technology, rise meteorically in Renaissance Europe rather than in China? Prompted by this observation, Joseph Needham explored the paradox three decades ago in what he termed "The Scientific Revolution Problem." This collection of original papers continues the exploration. Focusing on the idea and experience of time, twenty-four scholars from China and the West speak of the different aspects of cultural life and tradition that favored the creation of mathematized science in Europe and discouraged such development in China. An understanding of this cultural history is of interest to modern China, which labors to join the advanced scientific and technological communities of the world. It is also of interest to those concerned with the position of science and technology in the West, since a comparative interpretation of the origins of Western advances helps identify the many problems those very advances have created. Contents Acknowledgments Opening Remarks by the President A Message from DR. JOSEPH NEEDHAM, A Communication from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences YU GUANYUAN The Problems of Exporting Faust J.T. FRASER Part I. Time Introduction J.T. FRASER The Origins of Time NATHANIEL LAWRENCE Scientific Explanation and the Evolution of Time CONRAD DALE JOHNSON J. T. Fraser’s “‘Levels of Temporality’’ as Cognitive Representations JOHN A. MICHON Part Il. The Non-Chinese World Introduction J.T. FRASER The Emergence of Time DENIS CORISH Time, Technology, Religion, and Productivity Values in Early Modern Europe FRANCISC. HABER Literary Images of Progress SAMUEL L. MACEY Reflections on Time in Indian Philosophy ANINDITA NIYOGI BALSLEV The Shape of Time in African Music RUTH M. STONE Temporal Linearity and Nonlinearity in Music JONATHAN D. KRAMER Intermezzo Humanities and the Experiences of Time GEORGE H. FORD Part IIT. China Introduction J.T. FRASER On the Limits of Empirical Knowledge in the Traditional Chinese Sciences N. SIVIN The Evolution of Chinese Science and Technology JIN GUANTAO, FAN DAINIAN, FAN HONGYE, and LIU QINGFENG Cultural and Intellectual Attitudes That Prevented the Spontaneous Emergence of Modern Science in China QIU RENZONG Progressive and Regressive Time Cycles in Taoist Ritual KRISTOFER SCHIPPER and WANG HSIU-HUEI! Mohist Views of Time and Space ZHANG YINZHI Chinese Traditional Medicine HANS AGREN Zi Wu Flow Theory and Time LO HUISHENG Time in Archaeological Thought SYNN@VE VINSRYGG Space and Time in Chinese Verse FREDERICK TURNER Envoi J.T. FRASER Biographical Notes on the Contributors Constitution and By-laws of the International Society for the Study of Time Acknowledgments Opening Remarks by the President A Message from Dr. Joseph Needham, FRS, FBA A Communication from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences The Problems of Exporting Faust Time Introduction The Origins of Time Scientific Explanation and the Evolution of Time J. T. Fraser's 'Levels of Temporality' as Cognitive Representations The Non-Chinese World Introduction The Emergence of Time Time, Technology, Religion, and Productivity Values in Early Modern Europe Literary Images of Progress Reflections on Time in Indian Philosophy The Shape of Time in African Music Temporal Linearity and Nonlinearity in Music Intermezzo Humanities and the Experiences of Time China Introduction On the Limits of Empirical Knowledge in the Traditional Chinese Sciences The Evolution of Chinese Science and Technology Cultural and Intellectual Attitudes That Prevented the Spontaneous Emergence of Modern Science in China Progressive and Regressive Time Cycles in Taoist Ritual Mohist Views of Time and Space Chinese Traditional Medicine Zi Wu Flow Theory and Time Time in Archaeological Thought Space and Time in Chinese Verse Envoi Biographical Notes on the Contributors Constitution and By-laws of the International Society for the Study of Time Edited By J.t. Fraser, N. Lawrence, And F.c. Haber. Consists Of Papers From The Fifth Conference Of The International Society For The Study Of Time, Held At The Castello Di Gargonza, Tuscany. Includes Bibliographical References.