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Article ID: CBB572964856

Some Reflections on Joseph Needham's Intellectual Heritage (April 2019)

Technology and Culture
Volume: 60
Issue: 2
Pages: 594-603

URI: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/726941

DOI: 10.1353/tech.2019.0039

ISSN: 0040-165X; 1097-3729

Publication Date: April 2019
Edition Details: Themed articles on Joseph Needham's "Science and Civilization in China"
Language: English

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History of technology, as a discipline Cross-cultural comparison History of science, as a discipline Methodology Diffusion of innovation; diffusion of knowledge; diffusion of technology Global history Needham, Joseph

In this essay, I reflect on Joseph Needham's intellectual heritage, its impact on understanding the world history of knowledge circulation, and its broad influence on generations of scholars. I present two case studies of paktong and iron/steel to show what Needham himself achieved and what recent progress has been made, highlighting the change of research paradigm from a patriotic or nationalistic approach to a global history approach. I argue that Needham's work still sets a marker for ongoing research in many respects and that, especially, his cross-culturally comparative approach to global circulations of knowledge and technology remains of deep relevance to contemporary scholars.

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Included in

Article Chen, Buyun (April 2019) Needham, Matter, Form, and Us. Technology and Culture (pp. 574-582). unapi

Article Nappi, Carla; Wark, McKenzie (April 2019) Reading Needham Now. Technology and Culture (pp. 562-573). unapi

Article Kuijpers, Maikel H. G. (April 2019) Materials and Skills in the History of Knowledge: An Archaeological Perspective from the "Non-Asian" Field. Technology and Culture (pp. 604-615). unapi

Article Baichun; Miao (April 2019) Joseph Needham's Research on Chinese Machines in the Cross-Cultural History of Science and Technology. Technology and Culture (pp. 616-624). unapi

Article Tilley (April 2019) A Great (Scientific) Divergence: Synergies and Fault Lines in Global Histories of Science. Technology and Culture (pp. 583-593). unapi

Article Hsia; Schäfer (April 2019) Introduction to Themed articles on Joseph Needham's "Science and Civilization in China". Technology and Culture (pp. 554-561). unapi

Article Moon (April 2019) Editor's Note: Themed articles on Joseph Needham. Technology and Culture (pp. 553-553). unapi

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https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB572964856/

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