作者在中国是个知名度很高的人物,一提起他自然会想到那部多卷本鸿篇巨制《中国的科学与文明》(中译本作《中国科学技术史》)。“为什么现代科学没有在中国(或印度)文明中发展,而只在欧洲发展出来?”“为什么从公元前1世纪到公元15世纪,在把人类的自然知识应用于人的实际需要方面,中国文明要比西方文明有效得多?”这就是被人称为“李约瑟问题”的标准提法,对此问题最为明晰而详尽的回答就集中反映在作者 The author is a well-known figure in China. When it comes to his account, he naturally will think of the multi-volume masterpiece of “Science and Civilization in China” (Chinese translation as “History of Science and Technology in China”). “Why did modern science not develop in China (or India) civilization, but only in Europe? ” “Why from the first century BC to the 15th century, the natural knowledge of mankind in the actual needs of people In terms of Chinese civilization is far more effective than that of Western civilization? ”This is the standard formulation known as the“ Needham Problem, ”and the clearest and more detailed answer to this question is concentrated on the author