Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 7 The Social Background: Part 1 Language and Logic in Traditional China

Joseph Needham/ Christoph Harbsmeier

ISBN 10: 052157143X / ISBN 13: 9780521571432

Published by Cambridge Univ Pr, 1998

About this Item

504 pages. 10.25x8.00x1.50 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # __052157143X

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 7 The Social Background: Part 1 Language and Logic in Traditional China
• Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr
• Publication Date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 052157143X
• ISBN 13: 9780521571432
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 1.36 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 7 Part 1 is the first book in the final volume of this unique resource. The Chinese culture is the only culture in the world that has developed systematic logical definitions and reflections on its own and on the basis of a non-Indo-European language. Christoph Harbsmeier discusses the basic features of the classical Chinese language that made it a suitable medium for science in ancient China, discussing in detail a wide range of abstract concepts that are crucial for the development of scientific discourse. There is special emphasis on the conceptual history of logical terminology in ancient China, and on traditional Chinese views on their own language. Finally the book provides an overview of the development of logical reflection in ancient China, first in terms of the forms of arguments that were deployed in ancient Chinese texts, and then in terms of ancient Chinese theoretical concerns with logical matters.

Book Description

Volume VII, Part 1 of Science and Civilisation in China discusses the basic features of the classical Chinese language which made it a suitable medium for science in ancient China. This survey of the conceptual history of logical terminology in ancient China forms a unique resource for scholars of language, logic and the development of science in China.