Dedication to Prof.Ding Wangdao
AUTHORS’PREFACE
Chapter 1 Overall Introduction
Study One Civilization or Two
Why This Comparison Now ?
From a Chinese Point of View
From a Western Point of View
Cultural Relativism
Modemity IS Different in China and in the West
The Goal of Comparative Civilization Studies
Western Thought Patterns in WCwCC
The Uses of Distant Perspectives
Preparatory Skills
“Last Words”
Chapter 2 Technical Features of This Text
Modular 0rganization
Format for Each Half-Module
Reuniting Cultural ElementS Dispersed among Modules
Technical Aspects 0f the CD-ROM Format
1.Installation
2.On-Screen Reading
3.Copying or Printing
Appendix:technical details for downloading Adobe
Reader
Chapter 3 WCwCC as a University Course
1 How to Approach a Reading in WCwCC
1.1 Inspeetion
1.2 Interpretation
1 3 Comparison
1.4 Generalization
2 Advice for Prospective Students and Teachers
2.I Sell’一Study veI’sus In—Course study
2.2 A 01le—selllester Version
2.3 U,ldP¨t“ndi,坦Is M()l·e Important Than Knowledge
3 Critical Thinking and Academic Writing in English
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Debate:the Concentrated Form of WesternArgumentation
3.2 Cllmparative Guidelines r11r Argumentaftve Writing
3.3 The Basic:Tripartite[three—part]Stru(:ture
3.4 The Model of Modern Sciene
3.5 Questions of Focus:Forests and Trees
3.6 Seeking a Workable Thesis Statement
3.7 The Importance of Comparative Topics
3.8 Schematic Model for Structuring all Argument
3.9 Conclusion
Chapter 4 Module 0.1 GROUNDWORK
MODULE 0.1.1 Working Concepts for WCwCC
0.1.1.1 Mapping Ethnocentrism
0.1.1.2 Cuhures and Civilizati()HS:Definitions andProblems
0.1.1.3 Thirteen Working Premises for Comparative Civilizatiton Studies
0.1.1.4 The Idea of a Cultural Construct
0.1.1.5 Worldviews and Paradigms
0.1.1.6 Modernity as a Touchstone Concept in WCwCC
0.1.1.7 The Place of History
0.1.1.8 False Friends
MODULE 0.1.2 Tentative Comparisons:China and the
0. 1. 2. 1 Guidelines for Credible Civilizational Comparisons
0.1.2.2 A Chinese—Based Comparison:Prof.Gu Zhengkun’SSeven LaWS
0.1.2.3 Intersecting Cultural Constructs:DN A and the Yijing West
0.1.2.4 Simplified Binary Comparisons:China and the West
MODULE 0.1. 3 Intermediate Conclusion