Yuelu Academy Forum: Why China Did Not Have an Industrial Revolution: The "Needham Problem" from the Perspective of Economic History

RedNet Moment, October 13 (Correspondent Chen Yonghao) In order to continue Zhu Zhang's academic tradition, build the contemporary Yuelu Academy into a traditional Chinese culture research and talent training base with important international influence, promote the comprehensive modern rejuvenation of Yuelu Academy, enhance the international and domestic academic influence of hunan university's humanities, and respond to the major cultural needs of the country, Hunan University relies on Yuelu Academy's profound humanistic academic tradition and unique advantage resources. On September 12, 2021, the inauguration ceremony of the Institute for Advanced Study in Humanities of Hunan University (Yuelu Academy) was held. As one of the series of activities established by the Institute of Advanced Studies, Yuelu Academy of Hunan University, the Social Sciences Department of Hunan University, and the Institute for Advanced Studies in humanities of Hunan University jointly sponsored the series of lectures on "Humanities On Traditional Culture" at the forum of Yuelu College.

On the afternoon of October 17 (Sunday), Yuelu College of Hunan University invited Mr. Li Bozhong, Chair Professor of Humanities at Peking University, to give a series of lectures on the theme of "Why China Did Not Have an Industrial Revolution: The 'Needham Problem' in the Perspective of Economic History", and to conduct some new discussions on the issues related to the "Needham Problem" from the perspective of economic history. Stay tuned, publicized, and engaged.

Institute for Advanced Study of Humanities, Hunan University (Yuelu Academy).

"Humanities everyone talks about traditional culture" special lecture series

【Lecture Information】

Topic: Why China Did Not Have an Industrial Revolution: The "Needham Problem" from the Perspective of Economic History

Venue: Lecture Hall of China Academy Museum in Yuelu Academy, Hunan University

Speaker: Li Bozhong (Chair Professor of Humanities, Peking University)

Moderator: Yu Zhenbo (Professor, Department of History, Yuelu College, Hunan University)

Organizers: Yuelu College, Hunan University, Social Sciences Office, Hunan University, Hunan University Advanced Research Institute of Humanities

Organizer: Department of History and Department of Philosophy, Yuelu Academy, Research and Dissemination Center of Chinese Studies, Yuelu Academy

Co-organizer: Development Fund of Yuelu College, Hunan University, Dacheng Chinese Studies Fund

【Speaker Profile】

Born in 1949 in Kunming, Yunnan Province, Li Bozhong received his master's and doctoral degrees in history from Xiamen University in 1981 and 1985 respectively, and was one of the first batch of master's and doctoral degree recipients after the founding of the People's Republic of China. He has served as a visiting professor at Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, And The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and is currently a chair professor of humanities at Peking University, harvard university, university of Michigan, university of California, los Angeles, California Institute of Technology, London School of Economics, Keio University in Japan, and the French National Institute for Advanced Studies in social sciences, as well as the Wilson International Scholars Center of the Us Congress, the National Center for Humanities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, Visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo and other institutions in Japan.

【Introduction】

In 1954, Mr. Joseph Needham, a world-renowned expert in the history of science, raised a question: in history, China's science and technology were far ahead of Europe; but Europe gave birth to modern science and technology after the 16th century, while China did not. Why is that? In 1976, Kenneth Bolting called the problem the "Needham Conundrum." Scholars in the history of science, technology, economics, sociology, and even philosophy have been discussing this question for decades, but have not come up with an answer that everyone accepts. This lecture will take some new steps into this issue from the perspective of economic history.

【Registration Channel】

People from all walks of life are very welcome to listen to the lecture, please click https://h5.sosho.cn/activity/detail.html?id=21642 fill in the registration form to participate in the pulpit under your real name, and participate in the activity for free. Due to the traffic control on Lushan South Road (some one-way streets, see relevant notices for details), please try to travel by public transportation (Metro Line 4, Hunan University Station).

After the successful registration, the page will display the registered, and the system information will be received on the day of the lecture, please go to the pulpit check-in office within half an hour before the lecture, collect the admission ticket and enter. Successful registration but no reason to sign in, will be included in the blacklist, affecting future participation in college activities. Please pay attention to the WeChat public account of Yuelu College (hudayuelu) for more information.