Please wait a minute...
Frontiers of Philosophy in China

ISSN 1673-3436

ISSN 1673-355X(Online)

CN 11-5743/B

Postal Subscription Code 80-983

Front Phil Chin    2011, Vol. 6 Issue (2) : 193-216    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11466-011-0134-6
research-article
A New Discourse on Xunzi’s Philosophy of Language
PENG Chuanhua()
Institute of Humanities, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China
 Download: PDF(692 KB)   HTML
 Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks
Abstract

Xunzi’s philosophy of language was mainly unfolded through the “discrimination of ming 名 (names) and shi 实 (realities)” and the “discrimination of yan 言 (words) and yi 意 (meanings).” Particularly, the “discrimination of names and realities” was centered on the propositions that “realities are realized when their names are heard” and that “names are given to point up realities,” including the view on the essence of language such as “names expect to indicate realities” and “conventions established by usage,” the view of development of language such as “coming form the former usage and being newly established,” and the view of functions of language such as “discriminating superiority and inferiority and differentiating identities and differences”; while the “discrimination of words and meanings” mainly contained two aspects: One was that words could completely represent meanings while it could not do so on the other hand, and the other was that the Dao should be grasped through “an unoccupied, concentrated and quiet mind.” Xunzi’s philosophy of language stressed both language’s value attribute and its cognitive attribute, and it is the greatest achievement of pre-Qin dynasty’s philosophy of language.

Keywords Xunzi      philosophy of language      “discrimination of ming (names) and shi (realities)      ” “discrimination of yan (words) and yi (meanings)      ” semantics     
Corresponding Author(s): PENG Chuanhua,Email:whupch@163.com   
Issue Date: 05 June 2011
 Cite this article:   
PENG Chuanhua. A New Discourse on Xunzi’s Philosophy of Language[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2011, 6(2): 193-216.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/10.1007/s11466-011-0134-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/Y2011/V6/I2/193
[1] Chris Fraser. Xunzi Versus Zhuangzi: Two Approaches to Death in Classical Chinese Thought[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2013, 8(3): 410-427.
[2] WANG Kai. Xunzi: A Paradigm of Rationalistic Virtue Ethics in Early Confucianism[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2013, 8(3): 388-396.
[3] TANG Siufu. Self and Community in the Xunzi[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2012, 7(3): 455-470.
[4] YE Feng , . A naturalistic interpretation of the Kripkean modality[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2009, 4(3): 454-469.
[5] CHEN Lai. “Ru”: Xunzi’s thoughts on Ru and its significance[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2009, 4(2): 157-179.
[6] ZHAN Shiyou. Cultivation (jiaohua, 教化): The goal of Xunzi’s ethical thought[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2007, 2(1): 25-49.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed