Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[fw]

I came across the passage below the other day.

There is no such thing as a unique scientific vision, any more than there is a unique poetic vision. Science is a mosaic of partial and conflicting visions. But there is one common element in these visions. The common element is rebellion against the restrictions imposed by the locally prevailing culture, Western or Eastern as the case may be. The vision of science is not specifically Western. It is no more Western than it is Arab or Indian or Japanese or Chinese. Arabs and Indians and Japanese and Chinese had a big share in the development of modern science.

I don�t quite understand the second sentence in the passage above. I tried to rewrite it.
1. It is not Arab or Indian or Japanese or Chinese, and neither is it Western.
2. It is Arab or Indian or Japanese or Chinese, and it is as much, not more, Western.

Which is the right paraphrase? If neither is, could you paraphrase it for me?

[lotus]

Hi fw,

quote:
"There is no such thing as a unique scientific vision, any more than there is a unique poetic vision. Science is a mosaic of partial and conflicting visions. But there is one common element in these visions. The common element is rebellion against the restrictions imposed by the locally prevailing culture, Western or Eastern as the case may be. The vision of science is not specifically Western. It is no more Western than it is Arab or Indian or Japanese or Chinese. Arabs and Indians and Japanese and Chinese had a big share in the development of modern science."
endquote:

It is neither. It is saying that although there are differences in individual scientific visions, there is a common thread in scientific inquiry. That common thread is the rebellion against restrictions inherent in the prevailing thought (whether it be scientific or cultural). Since this is a common thread, it is not unique to Western science ("it is no more Western than it is Arab or Indian or Japanese or Chinese"). So, it can be re-phrased as "It is as Arab or Indian or Japanese or Chinese, as it is Western." Although, I like the original phrase better.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[fw]

Thank you, Lotus.

Your explanation really helps.

fw