Concepts of Science in Europe and Asia

Preface

This lecture was delivered on the occasion of the official opening of the International Institute for Asian Studies at Leiden on October 13, 1993.

I am grateful to the Board of the Institute for inviting me and bestowing this honor upon me. The lecture makes use of findings that are part of a larger undertaking to which many friends and colleagues have already contributed and which is still in progress. In its present form, it formulates some first tentative conclusions and incorporates information and insights for which I am particulary indebted to Derek Herforth, David Johnson, David Keightle¡ Hugh Mclean and Jeffrey Riegel at Berkely, Han den Heijer at Leiden, Paul Kiparsky at Stanford and Henk Verkuyl at Amsterdam-Utrecht. None of these scientists are responsible for the views expressed here.

Frits Staal