{"product_id":"science-and-civilisation-in-china-volume-2-history-of-scientific-thought-hardback-9780521058001","title":"Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 2, History of Scientific Thought (Hardback) 9780521058001","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eScience and Civilisation in China: Volume 2, History of Scientific Thought\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eJoseph Needham (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521058001, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 3 January 1956\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e722 pages\u003cbr\u003e25.4 x 19.3 x 5.2 cm, 1.62 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"Perhaps the greatest single act of historical synthesis and intercultural communication ever attempted by one man.\"\u003cbr\u003e  Laurence Picken, Cambridge University\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThe second volume of Dr Joseph Needham's great work Science and Civilisation in China is devoted to the history of scientific thought. Beginning with ancient times, it describes the Confucian milieu in which arose the organic naturalism of the great Taoist school, the scientific philosophy of the Mohists and Logicians, and the quantitative materialism of the Legalists. Thus we are brought on to the fundamental ideas which dominated scientific thinking in the Chinese middle ages. The author opens his discussion by considering the remote and pictographic origins of words fundamental in scientific discourse, and then sets forth the influential doctrines of the Two Forces and the Five Elements. Subsequently he writes of the important sceptical tradition, the effects of Buddhist thought, and the Neo-Confucian climax of Chinese naturalism. Last comes a discussion of the conception of Laws of Nature in China and the West.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eList of illustrations\u003cbr\u003e List of tables\u003cbr\u003e List of abbreviations\u003cbr\u003e Acknowledgements\u003cbr\u003e Author's note\u003cbr\u003e 8. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 9. The Ju Chia (Confucians) and Confucianism\u003cbr\u003e 10. The Tao Chia (Taoists) and Taoism\u003cbr\u003e 11. The Mo Chia (Mohists) and the Ming Chia (Logicians)\u003cbr\u003e 12. The fundamental ideas of Chinese science\u003cbr\u003e 14. The Pseudo-Sciences and the sceptical tradition\u003cbr\u003e 15. Buddhist thought\u003cbr\u003e 16. Chin and Thang Taoists, and Sung Neo-Confucians\u003cbr\u003e 17. Sung and Ming idealists, and the last great figures of indigenous naturalism\u003cbr\u003e 18. Human law and the laws of nature in China and the West\u003cbr\u003e Bibliographies\u003cbr\u003e General index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: History of science [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on History of science\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22History%20of%20science%20%5BPDX%5D%22\"\u003ePDX\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46006293004568,"sku":"9780521058001","price":199.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521058001i.jpg?v=1694968943","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/science-and-civilisation-in-china-volume-2-history-of-scientific-thought-hardback-9780521058001","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}