The first volume of Science and Civilisation in China was an introduction to Chinese history, geography and philology and did not yet raise the subject of science. Two years later the second volume went on to discuss the history of philosophy and ideas--both volumes were fiercely criticized.
「中國之科學與文明」第一卷在一九五四年出版，內容是介紹中國史地文字，並未涉及科技；而兩年後談論哲學與思想史的第二卷問世，卻遭到猛烈批評。