Epistemological Reasons for Lack of Science in Ancient China

Li Ma

doi:10.4236/jss.2015.39023

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Open Journal of Social Sciences > Vol.3 No.9, September 2015

Epistemological Reasons for Lack of Science in Ancient China ()

Li Ma^*

School of English Studies, Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an, China.

DOI: 10.4236/jss.2015.39023 PDF HTML XML 4,954 Downloads 5,656 Views Citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the epistemological reasons for lack of science in ancient China. The study reveals a striking contrast between China and the West in terms of epistemologies concerning scientific development. In the beginning, the term “science” is defined through some illustrations which can help illuminate its essential features. Then, the study distinguishes the differences between Chinese and Western epistemologies about scientific development. The differences lie mainly in four aspects—distinct patterns of research methodology, reasoning and truth-seeking, and dissimilar understanding of the relationship between man and nature. Through discussion on each aspect, the elements which scientific development requires while Chinese were lacking in are diagnosed. A lot of typical examples, including ancient Greek and Chinese philosophies, modern Western scientists, and “subject-object dichotomy” vs. “man being an integral part of nature” offer convincing data for the study.

Keywords

Epistemology, Scientific Development, Reasoning, Truth-Seeking, Ethic-Oriented, Truth-Oriented

Share and Cite:

Ma, L. (2015) Epistemological Reasons for Lack of Science in Ancient China. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 3, 167-171. doi: 10.4236/jss.2015.39023.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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