JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
A Comprehensive, Academic Journal of the Philosophy, History, Sociology and Cultural Studies of Science and Technology
Author Information
WANG Hongchen
Information
<p>School of History and Culture of Science</p><p>Shanghai Jiao Tong University</p><p>aloverofwisdom@163.com</p>
Research Articles
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The Reconstruction of the Debate on “Contactus Angulus” Between Peletarius and Clavius in Jihe Yuanben Abstract: By analyzing the debate on the contactus angulus between Peletarius and Clavius recorded in the commentary of Euclidis Elementorum Libri ⅩⅤ by Clavius in 1574, and its counterpart in Jihe Yuanben translated by Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi, this paper reveals that the latter debate is the reconstruction of the former one. It revealed that Peletarius and Clavius followed the tradition of Greek mathematics, putting the concept of angle as the core of the debate, instead of whether contactus angulus can be divided infinitely; Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi, influenced by the ignorance of general definition of angle in Chinese traditional mathematics and the meaning of one-foot-long stick expounded by the School of logicians in Pre-Qin Period, minimized the discussion on the concept of angle, while stressing the demonstration of the infinite divisibility of contactus angulus. The different emphasis reflects that the translation of Jihe Yuanben conforms to the tradition of Chinese Mathematics as well as Philosophy.Issue:Volume 39, lssue 2, March 2017Page: 10-16
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A Study on the Sources of Commentaries on the 5th Defination in the 6th Book of Jihe Yuanben Printed in Ming Dynasty Abstract: There has been uncertainty among previous researchers over whether the version of Jihe Yuanben with an epilogue by Han Yingbi (Version A) was printed as the first edition in 1607. In comparison, a different text of more than a thousand characters exists in the commentary on the 5th definition in the 6th book of the version of Jihe Yuanben from the First Collection of Writings on Heavenly Learning (Version B) printed in the early reign of Emperor Chongzhen, providing textual clues for solving the mystery. This paper compares commentaries on the 5th definition in the 6th book of both aforementioned versions printed in Ming Dynasty with their counterparts in the Latin versions by Clavius, the first print in 1574 as well as later enlarged editions, with the findings are as follows: this text of commentary in Version A corresponds to Clavius’ first printed Elements in its structure and details, while specific paragraphs in Version B, regarding the theory of component intermediate ratios, the method of conversion of ratios in mixed fractions to ratios in integral numbers, and the art of Jiexiang, originate from Clavius’ later enlarged editions, thereby providing convincing evidence that Version A was printed as the first edition in 1607. Key Words: Version of Jihe Yuanben with an epilogue by Han; Version of Jihe Yuanben from First Collection of Writings on Heavenly Learning; Clavius’ Euclidis Elementorum Librorum XVIssue:Volume 47, lssue 4, April 2025Page: 66-74
JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
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