Language and Logic in the Xunzi

Abstract

This chapter presents a detailed overview of the philosophy of language and logic presented in the Xunzi. Xunzi frames his main discussion of language and logic around the ruler’s need to ensure the right use of names. An enlightened king regulates names, or words, by fixing their use to distinguish different kinds of things, so that the Way is put into practice, the king’s intentions are communicated, and he can lead the people to unity. By controlling the use of names, so that people adhere to carefully maintained conventions governing how names are applied to things, the ruler can ensure that commands, rules, and models are interpreted consistently, thus facilitating communication, minimizing disputes, and promoting social unity. Xunzi regards language as a means of guiding conduct and words or names as functioning like measurement standards. Using a certain word of something gives the listener its measure, by conveying that it is similar to other things conventionally denoted by that word. As to logic or dialectics, Xunzi holds that its chief purpose is to settle the distinctions underlying the right use of names and thus provide grounds for rebutting deviant or perverse statements so as to prevent them from disrupting the proper use of names. In addition to surveying Xunzi’s views on language and dialectics, the chapter briefly describes their relation to his ethical, political, epistemological, and metaphysical theories.