The School of Names (Chinese: 名家; pinyin: Míngjiā), sometimes called the School of Forms and Names (Chinese: 形名家; pinyin: Xíngmíngjiā; Wade–Giles: Hsing2-ming2-chia1),[1] was a school of Chinese philosophy that grew out of Mohism during the Warring States period in 479–221 BCE. The followers of the School of Names were sometimes called the Logicians or Disputers.
The philosophy of the Logicians is often considered to be akin to those of the sophists or of the dialecticians. Joseph Needham notes that their works have been lost, except for the partially preserved Gongsun Longzi, and the paradoxes of Chapter 33 of the Zhuangzi.[2] Needham considers the disappearance of the greater part of Gongsun Longzi one of the worst losses in the ancient Chinese books, as what remains is said to reach the highest point of ancient Chinese philosophical writing.[1]
Birth places of notable Chinese philosophers from Hundred Schools of Thought in Zhou Dynasty. Philosophers of Logicianism are marked by circles in blue.
One of the few surviving lines from the school, "a one-foot stick, every day take away half of it, in a myriad ages it will not be exhausted," resembles Zeno's paradoxes. However, some of their other aphorisms seem contradictory or unclear when taken out of context, for example, "Dogs are not hounds."[3]
They were opposed by the Later Mohists for their paradoxes.[4]
History
Warring States era philosophers Deng Xi, Yin Wen, Hui Shi, Gongsun Long were all associated with the School of Names.[5]
A contemporary of Confucius,[6] Deng Xi (died 501 BC) is associated with litigation. He is said to have argued for the permissibility of contradictory propositions, likely engaging in hair-splitting debates on the interpretation of laws, legal principles and definitions. Deng is reported to have drawn up a code of penal laws and is cited by Liu Xiang for the origin of the Shen Buhai's principle of Xing-Ming, comparing minister's performances with their job titles. [7]
Shen Buhai
In the Han Dynasty secretaries of government who had charge of the records of decisions in criminal matters were called Xing-Ming. The earliest literary occurrence for Xing-Ming, in the Zhan Guo Ce, is in reference to the school of names,[8] although Han dynasty Sima Qian (145 or 135 – 86 BC) and Liu Xiang (77–6 BC) attribute it to the "Chinese Legalist" doctrine of Shen Buhai (400 – c. 337 BC)[9]: 72, 80, 103–104 [10][11] Shen actually used the older, more philosophically common equivalent, ming-shi, or name and reality, linking the "Legalist doctrine of names" with the debates of the school of names.[12][13] Such discussions are also prominent in the Han Feizi.[14]
Ming ("name") sometimes has the sense of speech – so as to compare the statements of an aspiring officer with the reality of his actions – or reputation, again compared with real conduct (xing "form" or shi "reality").[15]: 83 [16][17] Two anecdotes by Han Fei provide examples: The Logician Ni Yue argued that a white horse is not a horse, and defeated all debaters, but was still tolled at the gate. In another, the chief minister of Yan pretended to see a white horse dash out the gate. All of his subordinates denied having seen anything, save one, who ran out after it and returned claiming to have seen it, and was thereby identified as a flatterer.[17]
Shen Buhai's personnel control, or rectification of names (such as titles) worked thereby for "strict performance control" (Hansen) correlating claims, performances and posts.[18] It would become a central tenet of both Legalist statecraft[8] and its Huang-Lao derivatives. Rather than having to look for "good" men, ming-shi or xing-ming can seek the right man for a particular post, though doing so implies a total organizational knowledge of the regime.[19]: 57 More simply though, it can allow ministers to "name" themselves through accounts of specific cost and time frame, leaving their definition to competing ministers. Claims or utterances "bind the speaker to the realization a job (Makeham)." This was the doctrine, with subtle differences, favoured by Han Fei. Favoring exactness, it combats the tendency to promise too much.[20][17][21] The correct articulation of Ming is considered crucial to the realization of projects.[20][8]
^Creel, Herrlee Glessner (September 15, 1982). What Is Taoism?: And Other Studies in Chinese Cultural History. University of Chicago Press. ISBN9780226120478 – via Google Books.
^Creel, 1959 pp. 199–200. The Meaning of Hsing-Ming. Studia Serica: Sinological studies dedicated to Bernhard Kalgren
^Makeham, J. (1990) pp. 91–92. The Legalist Concept of Hsing-Ming: An Example of the Contribution of Archaeological Evidence to the Re-Interpretation of Transmitted Texts. Monumenta Serica, 39, 87–114. JSTOR 40726902
^Makeham, J. (1990) pp. 87, 89. The Legalist Concept of Hsing-Ming: An Example of the Contribution of Archaeological Evidence to the Re-Interpretation of Transmitted Texts. Monumenta Serica, 39, 87–114. JSTOR 40726902
^Mark Czikszentmihalyi p. 54. Chia I's "Techniques of the Tao" and the Han Confucian Appropriation of Technical Discourse. Asia Major, Third Series, Vol. 10, No. 1/2 (1997), pp. 49–67 JSTOR 41645528
^Cite error: The named reference auto3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Creel, 1959 p. 203. The Meaning of Hsing-Ming. Studia Serica: Sinological studies dedicated to Bernhard Kalgren
^ abcMark Edward Lewis, 1999 p. 33, Writing and Authority in Early China
^Hansen, Chad (August 17, 2000). A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought: A Philosophical Interpretation. Oxford University Press. ISBN9780195350760 – via Google Books.</re: 359
^Creel, 1974. Shen Pu-hai: A Chinese Political Philosopher of the Fourth Century B.C.
^ abMakeham, J. (1990) p. 91. The Legalist Concept of Hsing-Ming: An Example of the Contribution of Archaeological Evidence to the Re-Interpretation of Transmitted Texts. Monumenta Serica, 39, 87–114. JSTOR 40726902
Hansen, Chad (2000), "The School of Names: Linguistic Analysis in China", A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought: A Philosophical Interpretation, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 233–264, ISBN0195134192
Solomon, Bernard S. (2013), On the School of Names in Ancient China, Sankt Augustin: Institut Monumenta Serica, Steyler Verlag, ISBN978-3-8050-0610-1
Reding, Jean-Paul (1985), Les fondements philosophiques de la rhetorique chez les sophistes grecs et chez les sophistes chinois, Berne: Lang
school, names, chinese, 名家, pinyin, míngjiā, sometimes, called, school, forms, names, chinese, 形名家, pinyin, xíngmíngjiā, wade, giles, hsing2, ming2, chia1, school, chinese, philosophy, that, grew, mohism, during, warring, states, period, followers, were, somet. The School of Names Chinese 名家 pinyin Mingjia sometimes called the School of Forms and Names Chinese 形名家 pinyin Xingmingjia Wade Giles Hsing2 ming2 chia1 1 was a school of Chinese philosophy that grew out of Mohism during the Warring States period in 479 221 BCE The followers of the School of Names were sometimes called the Logicians or Disputers Contents 1 Overview 2 History 3 Shen Buhai 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Sources 6 Bibliography 7 External linksOverview EditThe philosophy of the Logicians is often considered to be akin to those of the sophists or of the dialecticians Joseph Needham notes that their works have been lost except for the partially preserved Gongsun Longzi and the paradoxes of Chapter 33 of the Zhuangzi 2 Needham considers the disappearance of the greater part of Gongsun Longzi one of the worst losses in the ancient Chinese books as what remains is said to reach the highest point of ancient Chinese philosophical writing 1 Birth places of notable Chinese philosophers from Hundred Schools of Thought in Zhou Dynasty Philosophers of Logicianism are marked by circles in blue One of the few surviving lines from the school a one foot stick every day take away half of it in a myriad ages it will not be exhausted resembles Zeno s paradoxes However some of their other aphorisms seem contradictory or unclear when taken out of context for example Dogs are not hounds 3 They were opposed by the Later Mohists for their paradoxes 4 History EditWarring States era philosophers Deng Xi Yin Wen Hui Shi Gongsun Long were all associated with the School of Names 5 A contemporary of Confucius 6 Deng Xi died 501 BC is associated with litigation He is said to have argued for the permissibility of contradictory propositions likely engaging in hair splitting debates on the interpretation of laws legal principles and definitions Deng is reported to have drawn up a code of penal laws and is cited by Liu Xiang for the origin of the Shen Buhai s principle of Xing Ming comparing minister s performances with their job titles 7 Shen Buhai EditIn the Han Dynasty secretaries of government who had charge of the records of decisions in criminal matters were called Xing Ming The earliest literary occurrence for Xing Ming in the Zhan Guo Ce is in reference to the school of names 8 although Han dynasty Sima Qian 145 or 135 86 BC and Liu Xiang 77 6 BC attribute it to the Chinese Legalist doctrine of Shen Buhai 400 c 337 BC 9 72 80 103 104 10 11 Shen actually used the older more philosophically common equivalent ming shi or name and reality linking the Legalist doctrine of names with the debates of the school of names 12 13 Such discussions are also prominent in the Han Feizi 14 Ming name sometimes has the sense of speech so as to compare the statements of an aspiring officer with the reality of his actions or reputation again compared with real conduct xing form or shi reality 15 83 16 17 Two anecdotes by Han Fei provide examples The Logician Ni Yue argued that a white horse is not a horse and defeated all debaters but was still tolled at the gate In another the chief minister of Yan pretended to see a white horse dash out the gate All of his subordinates denied having seen anything save one who ran out after it and returned claiming to have seen it and was thereby identified as a flatterer 17 Shen Buhai s personnel control or rectification of names such as titles worked thereby for strict performance control Hansen correlating claims performances and posts 18 It would become a central tenet of both Legalist statecraft 8 and its Huang Lao derivatives Rather than having to look for good men ming shi or xing ming can seek the right man for a particular post though doing so implies a total organizational knowledge of the regime 19 57 More simply though it can allow ministers to name themselves through accounts of specific cost and time frame leaving their definition to competing ministers Claims or utterances bind the speaker to the realization a job Makeham This was the doctrine with subtle differences favoured by Han Fei Favoring exactness it combats the tendency to promise too much 20 17 21 The correct articulation of Ming is considered crucial to the realization of projects 20 8 See also Edit China portal Philosophy portalHistory of logic MoziReferences EditCitations Edit a b Needham 1956 p 185 Needham 1956 p 697 Miscellaneous Paradoxes Van Norden 2011 p 111 Fraser Chris School of Names The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Spring 2017 Edition Edward N Zalta ed Peng He 2014 p 67 Chinese Lawmaking From Non communicative to Communicative https books google com books id MXDABAAAQBAJ amp pg PA85 Antonio S Cua 2003 p 492 Encyclopedia of Chinese Philosophy https books google com books id yTv AQAAQBAJ amp pg PA492 a b c John Makeham 1994 p 67 Name and Actuality in Early Chinese Thought https books google com books id GId ASbEI2YC amp pg PA67 Creel Herrlee Glessner September 15 1982 What Is Taoism And Other Studies in Chinese Cultural History University of Chicago Press ISBN 9780226120478 via Google Books Creel 1959 pp 199 200 The Meaning of Hsing Ming Studia Serica Sinological studies dedicated to Bernhard Kalgren Makeham J 1990 pp 91 92 The Legalist Concept of Hsing Ming An Example of the Contribution of Archaeological Evidence to the Re Interpretation of Transmitted Texts Monumenta Serica 39 87 114 JSTOR 40726902 Makeham J 1990 pp 87 89 The Legalist Concept of Hsing Ming An Example of the Contribution of Archaeological Evidence to the Re Interpretation of Transmitted Texts Monumenta Serica 39 87 114 JSTOR 40726902 Burton Watson Han Feizi http www2 hawaii edu freeman courses phil301 13 20Han 20Feizi pdf Mark Czikszentmihalyi p 54 Chia I s Techniques of the Tao and the Han Confucian Appropriation of Technical Discourse Asia Major Third Series Vol 10 No 1 2 1997 pp 49 67 JSTOR 41645528 Cite error The named reference auto3 was invoked but never defined see the help page Creel 1959 p 203 The Meaning of Hsing Ming Studia Serica Sinological studies dedicated to Bernhard Kalgren a b c Mark Edward Lewis 1999 p 33 Writing and Authority in Early China Hansen Chad August 17 2000 A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought A Philosophical Interpretation Oxford University Press ISBN 9780195350760 via Google Books lt re 359 Creel 1974 Shen Pu hai A Chinese Political Philosopher of the Fourth Century B C a b Makeham J 1990 p 91 The Legalist Concept of Hsing Ming An Example of the Contribution of Archaeological Evidence to the Re Interpretation of Transmitted Texts Monumenta Serica 39 87 114 JSTOR 40726902 Paul R Goldin 2013 p 9 Introduction Han Fei and the Han Feizi https www sas upenn edu ealc system files bio 5Buser raw 5D papers Introduction pdf Sources Edit Graham A C 1993 Disputers of the Tao Philosophical Argument in Ancient China Open Court ISBN 0 8126 9087 7 Needham Joseph 1956 Science and Civilisation in China vol 2 History of Scientific Thought ISBN 0 521 05800 7 Hansen Chad 2000 The School of Names Linguistic Analysis in China A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought A Philosophical Interpretation New York Oxford University Press pp 233 264 ISBN 0195134192 Solomon Bernard S 2013 On the School of Names in Ancient China Sankt Augustin Institut Monumenta Serica Steyler Verlag ISBN 978 3 8050 0610 1 Reding Jean Paul 1985 Les fondements philosophiques de la rhetorique chez les sophistes grecs et chez les sophistes chinois Berne Lang Van Norden Bryan W 2011 Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy Indianapolis IN Hackett Publishing Company ISBN 978 1603846158Bibliography EditIan Johnston Wang Ping The Mingjia and Related Texts Bilingual edition Hong Kong Chinese University of Hong Kong Press 2019 External links EditFraser Chris School of Names In Zalta Edward N ed Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Media related to School of Names at Wikimedia Commons This philosophy related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en 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