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Harmonization with Nature: Ancient Chinese Views and Technological Development

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Engineering, Development and Philosophy

Part of the book series: Philosophy of Engineering and Technology ((POET,volume 11))

Abstract

Contrary to the emphasis on the control of nature in the Western view of technological development, the Chinese view of technological development aims at abiding by the laws of nature and maintaining harmony with nature. Harmony is hereby the direction of development, the moral principles and methodological norms of development, as well as the assurance of development.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB933401) and National Social Science Foundation (09BZX048). The authors also wish to acknowledge Bill Grimson’s assistance in the final English editing of this chapter.

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Correspondence to Guoyu Wang Ph.D. .

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Wang, G., Zhu, Y. (2012). Harmonization with Nature: Ancient Chinese Views and Technological Development. In: Christensen, S., Mitcham, C., Li, B., An, Y. (eds) Engineering, Development and Philosophy. Philosophy of Engineering and Technology, vol 11. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5282-5_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5282-5_22

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