The Way and The Word; Science and Medicine in Early China and Greece

by Geoffrey Lloyd and Nathan Sivin

• ISBN13: 9780300101607
• ISBN10: 0300101600
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-11-10
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

In this engrossing book, two world-renowned scholars compare and contrast the cosmology, science, and medicine of China and Greece between 400 B.C. and A.D. 200. In the process they cast new light not only on thse two rich civilizations but also on the evolving character of science.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
1. Aims and Methods	1	(15)
What Is Ancient Science?	4	(2)
What Is Comparable?	6	(3)
Methods	9	(1)
Period	9	(2)
Historical Setting	11	(5)
2. The Social and Institutional Framework of the Chinese Sciences	16	(66)
Social Distinctions	16	(6)
Origins of Scientists and Physicians	22	(5)
Employment and Patronage	27	(15)
Individuals, Groups, Education, Transmission	42	(19)
Arguments, Books, Commentaries, Memorials	61	(18)
The Social Nexus of the Sciences	79	(3)
3. The Social and Institutional Framework of Greek Science	82	(58)
The Origins of Investigators, Employment, Patronage	82	(22)
Individuals, Groups, Sects, Orthodoxies	104	(14)
Debates, Lectures, Dialogues, Treatises, Commentaries	118	(22)
4. The Fundamental Issues of Greek Science	140	(48)
The Problem	140	(2)
Why Elements, Why Nature, Why Reality versus Appearances?	142	(16)
Causes	158	(7)
Mathematical and Physical Explanations	165	(9)
Cosmos: Assumptions and Debates	174	(9)
Conclusions	183	(5)
5. The Fundamental Issues of the Chinese Sciences	188	(51)
The Problem	188	(1)
The Aims of Inquiry	189	(4)
The World That Concepts Describe	193	(10)
Appearance versus Reality	203	(11)
Macrocosm and Microcosms	214	(12)
The Concepts of the Sciences	226	(8)
Conclusions	234	(5)
6. Chinese and Greek Sciences Compared	239	(14)
Concepts	240	(2)
Livelihood	242	(1)
Applications of Cosmology and Science	243	(1)
Pluralism and Deviance	244	(2)
Public and Private Spheres	246	(1)
Consensus and Disagreement	247	(2)
Persuasion	249	(1)
The Way and the Word	250	(3)
Appendix: Evolution of the Chinese Cosmological Synthesis	253	(20)
Chronology of Historical Events	273	(6)
Notes	279	(20)
Bibliography	299	(30)
Index and Glossary	329