The Sino-Hellenic Studies Of Geoffrey Lloyd

Sino-hellenic Studies, namely, comparative study of ancient Greek and early China, is an emerging research field developed up by the western classicists in recent years. This field devotes itself to discuss some issues that are commonly concerned by means of equal dialogue between Chinese and Greek cultures in expectation to obtain more profound understanding of cultures of the two parties. G. E. R. Lloyd, Professor of Cambridge University, has paid attention to Sino-hellenic studies for as long as 30 years. His plenteous research achievements have made a great contribution to development of Sino-hellenic Studies. His research demonstrates a sample available that can be referenced and there is a lot of operability. It can be applied in other fields, such as comparative studies of philosophy and literature.This paper concentrates on the exploration and analysis of G. E. R. Lloyd’s Sino-hellenic Studies and makes investigation by putting it in the general background of the development of the Sino-hellenic Studies so as to discuss the value orientation of Lloyd’s study and in hope to bring some enlightenment for further development of Sino-hellenic Studies.This article is divided into five chapters:The first chapter generally introduces G. E. R. Lloyd and his research and sorts out the domestic and international research status of his idea. In addition, it makes a brief introduction on the research background-origin and development of Sino-hellenic Studies.The second chapter investigates the position of Sino-hellenic Studies in Lloyd’s overall thoughts. That is to verify the hypothesis of his early study about the Greek science, to discover the uniqueness of the ancient societies and to lay the ground work for new question.The third chapter examine the possibility and the methodological principles of Lloyd’s Sino-hellenic Studies. It focuses on how he breaks the incommensurable barrier. And on this basis, four methodological principles related to the Sino-hellenic Studies are put forward.In the fourth chapter, the research achievements of Lloyd’s Sino-hellenic Studies are specifically revealed through three dimensions from comparison between Chinese and Greek science and philosophy, disputes between intercultural universalism and relativism as well as Lloyd’s modern reflection.The fifth chapter as the end of the paper points out the value orientation of Lloyd’s research on Sino-hellenic Studies. That is the anti-generalisation point, the anti-piecemeal point, the anti-unidirectional point and the emphasis of the social context.