Standards and Reference in Early Chinese Philosophy of Language
explores how early Chinese thinkers approached language, emphasizing
the roles of standards (fa) and the practice of giving examples (ju). It
argues that standards are understood by early Chinese philosophers to
provide the groundwork for judgment and language, not only in the Mohist
school, but also in other thinkers from the Warring States and early Han,
particularly Zhuangzi and Xunzi.
Blake demonstrates that standards and examples provide a way to
identify the reference of words and assess others' judgments and linguistic
competence, similar to some theories found in contemporary analytic texts.
They also discuss the ways in which the Mohist account goes beyond a
discussion of reference through a focus on communication and predication.
Providing new insights into ancient Chinese thought and the nature
of language, this book is for those working in comparative philosophy,
philosophy of language, Chinese philosophy, and East Asian studies.