New Perspectives of Philosophical Rhetoric in Ancient Greece and China (Ancient Worlds in Comparison #4)

There is an interesting correlation between the evolution of linguistic philosophy during the last centuries and the development of Greek philosophy during the time of Plato and Aristotle. During roughly the same historical period in China, philosophers were debating similar philosophical issues. In what ways does our use of language impact the way we (ought to) live together? The ideas of Confucius ultimately rose to prominence, particularly after being developed and elaborated by Xunzi nearly 300 years later. Does the manner in which the Chinese approached the question resonate with the Greeks?

This book begins the investigation from a Confucian perspective, and subsequently reflect heuristically on Plato and Aristotle from that vantage point. Re-introducing an element of ambiguity by finding a culturally external vantage point significantly invigorates our understanding of each philosopher. The purpose is to achieve both a superior understanding of the Confucian perspective on the relationship between language, Rhetorics and the world, and a new dynamic understanding of how the Greeks dealt with the same issue.