JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
A Comprehensive, Academic Journal of the Philosophy, History, Sociology and Cultural Studies of Science and Technology
Author Information
CAO Jingbo
Information
<p>School of History and Culture of Science</p><p>Shanghai Jiao Tong University</p><p>corring@sjtu.edu.cn</p>
Research Articles
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Bibliophilists of the Late Qing Dynasty in the Spread of Western Learning to the East: A Case Study of the Publication of the Last Nine Books of the Chinese Translation of Jihe Yuanben (Elements) Abstract: The first publication of the last nine books of the Jihe Yuanben (Elements) was funded by Shanghai Bibliophilist Han Yingbi in the late Qing dynasty, with the help of the scholar groups which consisted of bibliophilists and mathematicians, who became a School of Bibliophilism for western learning under the special historical opportunity. The true motive for subsidized publishing of Han Yingbi was related to his Confucian ideals, which was to be admitted by royal authority of the Qing government's national cultural undertakings. Although the turbulent situation made his aspirations frustrated, the historical value and influence of Jihe Yuanben contributed an important cultural significance to the entire historical event, and it also provided another opportunity that could be documented in history for all the contributors and participators.Issue:Volume 40, lssue 9, September 2018Page: 73-79
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Research on the Rationality of Transitivity Problem of Understanding Abstract: It is an important issue in the contemporary theory of understanding whether the speaker can transmit understanding to the listener by testimony, which is called the transitivity problem of understanding, is an important issue in the contemporary theory of understanding. Opponents such as Zagzebski argue that understanding is an ability, and that the transmission of understanding involves additional cognitive work, therefore understanding can not be transmitted by testimony. Supporters such as Grimm argue that understanding can be transmitted by testimony, because abilities can be transmitted by testimony, and that understanding does not involve additional cognitive work when the listener has the relevant background abilities and background knowledge. The existing studies in both dimensions adopt qualitative research methods, and mistakenly regard the transitivity problem of understanding as a qualitative question of “yes or no” rather than a quantitative question related to the degrees of cognitive state of subjects. Epistemic gradualism takes a quantitative position and approach, which holds that there are degrees of understanding, and quantify the degree of understanding through the concept of maximum understanding. From the perspective of the degree of understanding, all kinds of understanding can be transmitted by testimony, but the improvement of the listener’s degrees of understanding is different. Key Words: Understanding; Degrees of understanding; Testimony; Ability; The transitivity problemIssue:Volume 45, lssue 1, January 2023Page: 41-49
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Chinese Translation of Euclid’s Elements, Book X: Mathematical Speculation on Traditional Continuation and Terminological Reconstruction Abstract: In the translation of Books VII-XV of Jihe Yuanben (Euclid’s Elements), Li Shanlan (1811-1882) and Alexander Wylie (1815-1887) carried forward the translation style and format of Xu Guangqi (1562-1633) and Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) in Books I-VI. The Chinese translation of “incommensurable quantity” is taken as a case to analyse the Chinese Jihe Yuanben. The translators, Alexander Wylie and Li Shanlan, attempted to create new terms based on traditional Chinese vocabulary in Book X. Although there may have been some shortcomings, the terms they created are reasonable and accurate in general, especially He Xian (和线), Jiao Xian (较线), Tong Zong (同宗) and so on. This highlights the continuity and adaptability of scholarly creativity, as well as how translators, through the creation of terminology, transmitted mathematical ideas across different historical contexts, constructing an edifice of knowledge. Key Words: Book X of Jihe Yuanben; Incommensurable quantity; Translation of terms; Translation of propositionsIssue:Volume 47, lssue 11, November 2025Page: 75-81
JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
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