Special Problems In Understanding Chinese Philosophy

It Doesnt Look Like Real Philosophy The way that can be spoken of Is not the constant way; The name that can be named Is not the constant name. The nameless was the beginning of heaven and earth; The named was the mother of the myriad creatures. Hence always rid yourself of desires in order to observe its secrets; But always allow yourself to have desires in order to observe its manifestations. These two are the same But diverge in name as they issue forth. Being the same they are called mysteries, Mystery upon mystery - The gateway of the manifold secrets.

Two Ways to Read It 1.As containing hidden arguments

Two Ways to Read It 2.As suggestive rhetoric The fish trap exists because of the fish; once youve gotten the fish you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit; once you've gotten the rabbit you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning; once you have the meaning you can forget the words. Zz xxvi.13

Two Distinctive Characteristics 1.Utility is preferred above truth Whats important is whether statements work Logic never really caught on

Two Distinctive Characteristics 2.Intuitions trump complex Ideas Blue as an experience rather than blue as a wavelength is the model for important concepts Epistemology was not important

Translation 1.The language was/is an obstacle Fluid grammatical categories Lack of abstractions

Translation 2.The interpretation is underdetermined Translation is always an interpretation We may have started off with the wrong interpretation

Translation Consider ch. 2, line 1 of the Daodejing the world - all - know - beauty - nominalizing particle - deeming/acting - beauty - then - ugly - aspect particle The whole world recognises the beautiful as the beautiful, yet this is only the ugly (Lau)

Translation Consider ch. 2, line 1 of the Daodejing the world - all - know - beauty - nominalizing particle - deeming/acting - beauty - then - ugly - aspect particle All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is (Sturgeon)

Translation Consider ch. 2, line 1 of the Daodejing the world - all - know - beauty - nominalizing particle - deeming/acting - beauty - then - ugly - aspect particle Since the world points up beauty as such, there is ugliness too (Blakney)

Translation Consider ch. 2, line 1 of the Daodejing the world - all - know - beauty - nominalizing particle - deeming/acting - beauty - then - ugly - aspect particle All the world knows beauty but if that becomes beautiful this becomes ugly (Red Pine)

Translation Consider ch. 2, line 1 of the Daodejing the world - all - know - beauty - nominalizing particle - deeming/acting - beauty - then - ugly - aspect particle When everyone knows beauty is beauty, this is bad (Cleary)