Please find below a quite interesting post thayt I have found on Quora, As far as item (1) is concerned, I would emphazize the importance of a linear concept of tome that derives to us from judeo-christian culture, let’s call it item 1.bis; on item (9) I would add property rights as has been demonstrated by De Soto
Why did the Scientific Revolution-not take place in China
They lacked the needed prequisites.
The Chinese did not have a religion which made the distinction between mysticism and philosophy. That meant they never were able to make the distinction between natural and supernatural, secular and sacral. It also meant they never found the connection between mathematics and philosophy, and mathematics and engineering.
Here are the 12 pre-requisites for the scientific revolution.
- A religion which makes distinction between mysticism and philosophy
- A religion which prohibits slavery
- A philosophy which stresses on rationality and the laws of the nature
- A judicial system which makes the distinction between religious and secular
- Discovery of the connection between mathematics and philosophy, leading into scientific method.
- Discovery of the connection between mathematics and natural laws
- Discovery of the connection between mathematics, physics and chemistry
- Judicial system which guarantees the rights of the individuals and public entities against the powerholders
- Functional capitalism and banking system
- Citizen society based on merit and rise of universities
- Discovery of the connection between engineering and the sciences
- High overall literacy around the society, combining craft with education.
This is not to say the Chinese had been anyhow backwards or stupid! Once they got those missing pre-requisites, they quickly attained what they had lagged with west, and today China is one of the most important countries in science and engineering.
Gianluca di Castri (IdeaConsult) 