Challenge with Curiosity: Joseph Needham and his Intellectual Heritage (好奇心與挑戰：李約瑟及其知識遺產)

Dr. Joseph Needham is well known for his monumental series Science and Civilisation in China (SCC), which explores in part why the scientific and industrial revolutions took place in Western Europe, not in China. This is the so-called Needham question. In this lecture, I wish to show how Joseph Needham’s insatiable curiosity led him to learn about China and the challenges thereby he brought upon himself and the mainstream academic world. When and why did he become interested in ancient Chinese science? What were the motivations behind his decision to travel to war-time China? What did he experience in China during those difficult times? How did he embark on the SCC project? What are influences of SCC on the world? Are there answers to the Needham question? What can we learn from Needham’s legacy and why is it so precious for us? This lecture aims to highlight Dr. Needham’s outstanding life and his unique intellectual heritage, which surely continues to encourage and inspire new generations of inquisitive minds.