The Cognitive Schema of Lao Tzu
Resource
臺大中文學報, 23, 001-030
Journal
臺大中文學報
Journal Issue
23
Pages
001-030
Date Issued
2005-12
Date
2005-12
Author(s)
Abstract
This paper aims to uncover the "cognitive schema" of Lao Tzu by investigating its pattern of linguistic operation. By doing so, we hope to shed new light on both the text's views on human affairs and the ways it proposes to transmit wisdom. We begin with the proposition that since language is part and parcel of the multi-faceted human affairs, there must be a certain logical accordance between one's views on the operation of language and one's attitudes towards the operation of human affairs. In line with this proposition, our study of Lao Tzu contends that it is not the expressive statements them-selves, but the pattern in which language is operated, that truly bespeaks the text's attitude towards human affairs. This pattern also reveals the contents and rules of what we call the "cognitive schema" of Lao Tzu. We try to bring forth this schema through a close examination of the text's zhengyan ruofan ( 正言若反 ) pattern of linguistic operation. We further provide a discussion of Wang Bi ( 226-249 ), who was deeply influenced by Lao Tzu, to elaborate both the contents and the historical significance of this schema. In the end, with this study we wish to demonstrate a new approach, vis-?-vis the conventional philosophical and historical ones, to the study of classical Chinese texts.
Subjects
老子
認知圖式
語言
王弼
符號
Lao Tzu
Cognitive schema
Language
Wang Bi
Type
journal article
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