Jacques Derrida＇s engagement with Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the second part of Of Grammatology constitutes the most systematic, extensive example of deconstructive reading. Nevertheless, the problem of whether Derrida...Jacques Derrida＇s engagement with Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the second part of Of Grammatology constitutes the most systematic, extensive example of deconstructive reading. Nevertheless, the problem of whether Derrida reproduces Rousseau＇s basic claims adequately has remained a peripheral concern. This has meant that this may constitute a misreading and the consequences that this would have for the deconstructive operation itself have not adequately examined. Hence, this enquiry into Derrida＇s reading of Rousseau centers upon the extent to which Derrida distorts Rousseau＇s text in order to be able to confirm deconstruction＇s radical theoretical positions.展开更多
Charles Dickens （1812-1870） is a 19th century British writer, and he is the main representative of realism. Oliver Twist is the first social novel that discloses a variety of evils under the world of money. In this ...Charles Dickens （1812-1870） is a 19th century British writer, and he is the main representative of realism. Oliver Twist is the first social novel that discloses a variety of evils under the world of money. In this novel, his childhood＇s experiences supply Dickens a large quantity of writing materials. The author holds a decent moral code and encourages government to reform. It is of profound meaning for constructing harmonious and modem society.展开更多
Jean Baudrillard （1929-2007）, a leading contemporary theorist from the 1970s to the present, was deeply influenced by anthropological thought. As an outcome of his prolonged encounter with anthropology he was able t...Jean Baudrillard （1929-2007）, a leading contemporary theorist from the 1970s to the present, was deeply influenced by anthropological thought. As an outcome of his prolonged encounter with anthropology he was able to devise a unique approach to the world. This approach enabled him to play a leading role in surpassing Marxist thought and in explaining contemporary terrorist attacks such as those of September 11, 2001 in the United States. Baudrillard, who is often correctly seen as making a contribution to contemporary anthropology, is also someone who is deeply indebted to anthropology. This aspect of Baudrillard is less well understood.展开更多
The present study constitutes a critical appraisal of the deconstructive reading of Rousseau＇s Confessions that Derrida undertakes in the second part of Of Grammatology. In this examination, the author will first lis...The present study constitutes a critical appraisal of the deconstructive reading of Rousseau＇s Confessions that Derrida undertakes in the second part of Of Grammatology. In this examination, the author will first list some of the significations into which Derrida disperses （forced, as he asserts himself, by an ＂inassimilable residue＂ in the text itself） the meaning that he has already construed as apparently simple during the first moment of deconstructive reading （i.e., ＂the doubling commentary＂）; the author will then go on to enquire into the operations which enable Derrida to arrive at these self-conflicting significations. The main aim of this essay is to demonstrate that it is not language alone that disables the philosophy of Rousseau and enables the philosophy of Derrida. When Derrida attempts to support his philosophy through an analysis of Rousseau＇s theory of language and the alleged contradictions in Rousseau＇s texts, he misinterprets basic tenets of these texts in order to make them conform to the presuppositions of the deconstructive approach. The ＂reversal＂ and ＂displacement＂ of metaphysical conceptuality in the text of the Confessions is made possible after the text has had meanings transposed into it from a plurality of other texts. Derrida attributes to the text significations he discovers by construing, explicating and over-reading passages that occur elsewhere in Rousseau＇s total oeuvre （especially in the Essay on the Origin of Languages）.展开更多
This paper examines the expression of being from the syntactic perspective in the framework of Cassirer＇s philosophy of language in his Philosophy of Symbolic Forms. It first introduces the debate about the validity ...This paper examines the expression of being from the syntactic perspective in the framework of Cassirer＇s philosophy of language in his Philosophy of Symbolic Forms. It first introduces the debate about the validity of the question of being between the logical and ontological perspectives, represented by J. S. Mill＇s attempt to annul the question and Heidegger＇s counter argument. It then moves to the syntactic perspective by using Aquinas＇ statement that in every apprehension being should be present, and then reconsiders the function of copula in a sentence. The main part of this article follows Cassirer＇s argument by picking up the so-called ＂war of the giants＂ between the Heraclitean flux and the Parmenidean immovable being in the context of language in Plato＇s three dialogues, namely Cratylus, Theaetetus, and Sophist. It then moves on to Cassirer＇s Kantian scheme of analysis to handle the Platonic question, and argues that words and sentences are different moments of unit formation in our consciousness. It concludes with Cassirer＇s argument of the priority of sentence over words, and that the concentration merely on the copula is a limited approach to the question. The purpose of this paper is to show Cassirer＇s contribution to the problem of being by shifting the attention from semantics to the syntax and by breaking new ground from neo-Kantianism, and offers an approach to understand the role of language in our knowledge of the objective world which is neither purely nominal nor realist.展开更多
Condemned by Mencius （ca.372-289 BCE） as selfishness （weiwo, 为我）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy in China is traditionally depicted as a philosophy of egoism and hedonism. In contrast, Yang Zhu （fl.ca.370-350...Condemned by Mencius （ca.372-289 BCE） as selfishness （weiwo, 为我）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy in China is traditionally depicted as a philosophy of egoism and hedonism. In contrast, Yang Zhu （fl.ca.370-350 BCE） is described as an ＂early liberal or individualist＂ hero in the Western Discussion of Chinese Philosophy. Yang Zhu may not be a liberal or individualist hero as portrayed by the West, but surely he should not be depicted as a promoter of egoism as Mencius did. Both John Emerson and A.C. Graham are probably right when they claimed that Yang Zhu was a revolutionary thinker of his own time; and ＂Yang Zhu＇s intervention for the Chinese thinking world had provoked a metaphysical crisis which had threatened the basic assumptions of Confucianism and Mohism and set them into a new course＂ （A.C. Graham 1978）. From my reading, Yang Zhu＇s influence on Chinese philosophy had been and will be even greater, although his philosophy as a whole was not practiced by Chinese society in the past due to the dominance of Confucianism. Yet as the first person who clearly emphasized nourishing of life for individuals and the first theory that rooted morality into xing （性, human nature）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy had indeed through history made a huge contribution to Chinese nurturing life tradition, and had great potential in providing inspiration to modern moral thinking. Many discussions initiated or developed by Yang Zhu and his followers have influenced both Confucianism and Daoism profoundly. His idea of nourishing life was not only inherited and developed by Zhuangzi and later Daoist religion from life preservation perspective, but also by Mencius and Xunzi from moral cultivation perspective. As a doctrine that has shown more and more relevance to modern society, people can find many inspirations from Yang Zhu＇s answer to the following questions： What is the aim of human life？ What is the right attitude toward life and death？ What is human nature？ What is the relationship between life nourishment and individual freedom？ Why nourishing one＇s own life should be as important as nourishing that of others？ What is the difference between humans and animals？ Why living a natural life is so important for human beings？ Based on materials collected from various Chinese sources directly related to Yang Zhu＇s school, especially the chapter entitled as ＂Yang Zhu＂ from the book of Liezi, this paper will explore essential features of Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy and its relevance to modern society. As ＂guiji＂ （贵已, cherishing oneself） is the core of Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy, discussion of this paper will focus on what Yang Zhu＇s ＂guiji＂ means, why Yang Zhu＇s ＂guiji＂ is not ＂weiwo＂ （为我, for oneself）, and how Yang Zhu＇s ＂guiji＂ yangsheng is relevant to modern society.展开更多
Despite its role in literature, especially in poetics, sound symbolism does not traditionally enjoy a high esteem in linguistics. Ever since the scientific study of language was revolutionized by the Swiss structurali...Despite its role in literature, especially in poetics, sound symbolism does not traditionally enjoy a high esteem in linguistics. Ever since the scientific study of language was revolutionized by the Swiss structuralist pioneer Ferdinand de Saussure, sound symbolism tended to be restricted to some peripheral linguistic phenomena. The present essay is an interpretation of first-hand texts. It explores the development of the linguistic idea of sound symbolism scattered in the both linguistic and non-linguistic texts published in German, French, English and other languages. These texts are found to suggest that Saussure was not the only scholar interested in this sound-sense relationship in his age, nor was his idea of arbitrariness the final word on it. The author concludes that a study on the history of sound symbolism has to be accomplished with a trans-disciplinary perspective and the support of multi-lingual texts.展开更多
This thesis mainly analyses the criticism in The picture of Dorian Gray of Oscar Wilde. Firstly, from social background and personal characteristics, it introduces the cause of criticism. Secondly, it demonstrates the...This thesis mainly analyses the criticism in The picture of Dorian Gray of Oscar Wilde. Firstly, from social background and personal characteristics, it introduces the cause of criticism. Secondly, it demonstrates the concrete connotation of criticism by criticizing traditional values. Lastly, it makes some comments on library theory and criticism of Wilde.展开更多
The Fort Worth （Texas） exhibition/publication Poussin： The Early Years in Rome： The Origins of French Classicism （1988） proved to be a seminal event in Poussin scholarship. Over 200 works were put on display at ...The Fort Worth （Texas） exhibition/publication Poussin： The Early Years in Rome： The Origins of French Classicism （1988） proved to be a seminal event in Poussin scholarship. Over 200 works were put on display at the Kimbell Art Museum that revealed the formative years in the French painter＇s works. The drawings and paintings confirmed Poussin as the leading classicist in 17th century French art and expanded our appreciation of the flexibility of the artist to illustrate mythological narratives. Previous positions on the artist such as Anthony Blunt＇s, who viewed the painter as a strict classicist without a major interest in color, are now reevaluated after the Fort Worth show. The influence of the Venetian school, especially the work of Titian, emerged stronger into Poussin＇s oeuvre. It was under the classicist umbrella that the romantic verse of Ovid and the sensual color of Titian became forged into the pictures of Roman mythology. The leading source of inspiration for this work would be Ovid＇s Metamorphoses where figures change into flowers made timeless by the painter＇s brush. Just as the poet varied the structure of his narrative presentation, so too did the painter expand his approach to depicting scenes of change in a variety of formats. A key work for Poussin in these stories of change would be the Kingdom of Flora （1631） where Ovidian tales are posed as an eternal spring where the goddess distributes the flowers of the collective narrative in an olive green chitin. This paper will contribute to the position of viewing Poussin＇s art under a wider vision of classicism where flexible narrative design and sensuous color fit the mission to make art noble and timeless.展开更多
In Physics B 1, Aristotle establishes a detailed definition ofphysis. For that purpose, Aristotle distinguishes physis from rechne and his domain. He did this to offer a satisfactory account of the physical being. In ...In Physics B 1, Aristotle establishes a detailed definition ofphysis. For that purpose, Aristotle distinguishes physis from rechne and his domain. He did this to offer a satisfactory account of the physical being. In this process, phf;sis is defined as an immanent principle of movement and as matter and as form. As matter physis could be understood as ＂the primary underlying matter in each case, of things which have in themselves a source of their movements and changes＂. To consider physis as form Aristotle appeals to four arguments where priority of form over matter appears to be evident and where the identifying of eidos/morphe with to telos/to hou heneka will be crucial, especially for later developments. The reconstruction of Aristotle＇s reasoning on his definition ofphysis in Physics B 1 emphasizing the problems that such effort of definition implies is the purpose of this paper.展开更多
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald depicts the conflicts and contradictions between men and women about society, family, love, and money, literally mirroring the patriarchal society constantly challenged by feminism in t...In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald depicts the conflicts and contradictions between men and women about society, family, love, and money, literally mirroring the patriarchal society constantly challenged by feminism in the 1920s of America. This paper intends to compare the features of masculinism and feminism in three aspects： gender, society, and morality. Different identifications of gender role between men and women lead to female protests against male superiority and pursuits of individual liberation. Meanwhile, male unshaken egotism and gradually expanded individualism of women enable them both in lack of sound moral standards. But compared with the female, male moral pride drives them with much more proper moral judge, which reflects Fitzgerald＇s support of the masculine society. Probing into the confrontation between masculinism and feminism, it is beneficial for further study on how to achieve equal coexistence and harmony between men and women.展开更多
This article looks at how cosmopolitanism--the notion of universality within a diversity of multi-cultures---has been shaping the discipline of world literature. The article encompasses chiefly three parts. The first ...This article looks at how cosmopolitanism--the notion of universality within a diversity of multi-cultures---has been shaping the discipline of world literature. The article encompasses chiefly three parts. The first part offers an overview of the debates on the discipline widely discussed by literary scholars such as Franco Moretti, David Damrosch and Emily Apter. I take issue with the harmonic co-existence of both local and global elements---and what I define as ＂glocality＂---in literatures to exhibit the inevitable trend of the trans-cultural, supranational and cross-historical interactions among multiple centres and/or various cities especially in the twenty-first century. I thereby argue in the second part using Leung Ping Kwan （1949-2013）＇s ＂Images of Hong Kong＂ （1992） and Louise Ho＇s two poetry pieces written in 1994 to prove how Kantian Cosmopolitan elements have deeply embedded in the poem written in a city where the West frequently interacts with the East. I conclude by stepping in further to argue that only through tolerating and mediating between the region and the globe can world literature as a discipline find its way out without fear for marginalising any of the literary pieces.展开更多
文摘Jacques Derrida＇s engagement with Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the second part of Of Grammatology constitutes the most systematic, extensive example of deconstructive reading. Nevertheless, the problem of whether Derrida reproduces Rousseau＇s basic claims adequately has remained a peripheral concern. This has meant that this may constitute a misreading and the consequences that this would have for the deconstructive operation itself have not adequately examined. Hence, this enquiry into Derrida＇s reading of Rousseau centers upon the extent to which Derrida distorts Rousseau＇s text in order to be able to confirm deconstruction＇s radical theoretical positions.
文摘Charles Dickens （1812-1870） is a 19th century British writer, and he is the main representative of realism. Oliver Twist is the first social novel that discloses a variety of evils under the world of money. In this novel, his childhood＇s experiences supply Dickens a large quantity of writing materials. The author holds a decent moral code and encourages government to reform. It is of profound meaning for constructing harmonious and modem society.
文摘Jean Baudrillard （1929-2007）, a leading contemporary theorist from the 1970s to the present, was deeply influenced by anthropological thought. As an outcome of his prolonged encounter with anthropology he was able to devise a unique approach to the world. This approach enabled him to play a leading role in surpassing Marxist thought and in explaining contemporary terrorist attacks such as those of September 11, 2001 in the United States. Baudrillard, who is often correctly seen as making a contribution to contemporary anthropology, is also someone who is deeply indebted to anthropology. This aspect of Baudrillard is less well understood.
文摘The present study constitutes a critical appraisal of the deconstructive reading of Rousseau＇s Confessions that Derrida undertakes in the second part of Of Grammatology. In this examination, the author will first list some of the significations into which Derrida disperses （forced, as he asserts himself, by an ＂inassimilable residue＂ in the text itself） the meaning that he has already construed as apparently simple during the first moment of deconstructive reading （i.e., ＂the doubling commentary＂）; the author will then go on to enquire into the operations which enable Derrida to arrive at these self-conflicting significations. The main aim of this essay is to demonstrate that it is not language alone that disables the philosophy of Rousseau and enables the philosophy of Derrida. When Derrida attempts to support his philosophy through an analysis of Rousseau＇s theory of language and the alleged contradictions in Rousseau＇s texts, he misinterprets basic tenets of these texts in order to make them conform to the presuppositions of the deconstructive approach. The ＂reversal＂ and ＂displacement＂ of metaphysical conceptuality in the text of the Confessions is made possible after the text has had meanings transposed into it from a plurality of other texts. Derrida attributes to the text significations he discovers by construing, explicating and over-reading passages that occur elsewhere in Rousseau＇s total oeuvre （especially in the Essay on the Origin of Languages）.
文摘This paper examines the expression of being from the syntactic perspective in the framework of Cassirer＇s philosophy of language in his Philosophy of Symbolic Forms. It first introduces the debate about the validity of the question of being between the logical and ontological perspectives, represented by J. S. Mill＇s attempt to annul the question and Heidegger＇s counter argument. It then moves to the syntactic perspective by using Aquinas＇ statement that in every apprehension being should be present, and then reconsiders the function of copula in a sentence. The main part of this article follows Cassirer＇s argument by picking up the so-called ＂war of the giants＂ between the Heraclitean flux and the Parmenidean immovable being in the context of language in Plato＇s three dialogues, namely Cratylus, Theaetetus, and Sophist. It then moves on to Cassirer＇s Kantian scheme of analysis to handle the Platonic question, and argues that words and sentences are different moments of unit formation in our consciousness. It concludes with Cassirer＇s argument of the priority of sentence over words, and that the concentration merely on the copula is a limited approach to the question. The purpose of this paper is to show Cassirer＇s contribution to the problem of being by shifting the attention from semantics to the syntax and by breaking new ground from neo-Kantianism, and offers an approach to understand the role of language in our knowledge of the objective world which is neither purely nominal nor realist.
文摘Condemned by Mencius （ca.372-289 BCE） as selfishness （weiwo, 为我）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy in China is traditionally depicted as a philosophy of egoism and hedonism. In contrast, Yang Zhu （fl.ca.370-350 BCE） is described as an ＂early liberal or individualist＂ hero in the Western Discussion of Chinese Philosophy. Yang Zhu may not be a liberal or individualist hero as portrayed by the West, but surely he should not be depicted as a promoter of egoism as Mencius did. Both John Emerson and A.C. Graham are probably right when they claimed that Yang Zhu was a revolutionary thinker of his own time; and ＂Yang Zhu＇s intervention for the Chinese thinking world had provoked a metaphysical crisis which had threatened the basic assumptions of Confucianism and Mohism and set them into a new course＂ （A.C. Graham 1978）. From my reading, Yang Zhu＇s influence on Chinese philosophy had been and will be even greater, although his philosophy as a whole was not practiced by Chinese society in the past due to the dominance of Confucianism. Yet as the first person who clearly emphasized nourishing of life for individuals and the first theory that rooted morality into xing （性, human nature）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy had indeed through history made a huge contribution to Chinese nurturing life tradition, and had great potential in providing inspiration to modern moral thinking. Many discussions initiated or developed by Yang Zhu and his followers have influenced both Confucianism and Daoism profoundly. His idea of nourishing life was not only inherited and developed by Zhuangzi and later Daoist religion from life preservation perspective, but also by Mencius and Xunzi from moral cultivation perspective. As a doctrine that has shown more and more relevance to modern society, people can find many inspirations from Yang Zhu＇s answer to the following questions： What is the aim of human life？ What is the right attitude toward life and death？ What is human nature？ What is the relationship between life nourishment and individual freedom？ Why nourishing one＇s own life should be as important as nourishing that of others？ What is the difference between humans and animals？ Why living a natural life is so important for human beings？ Based on materials collected from various Chinese sources directly related to Yang Zhu＇s school, especially the chapter entitled as ＂Yang Zhu＂ from the book of Liezi, this paper will explore essential features of Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy and its relevance to modern society. As ＂guiji＂ （贵已, cherishing oneself） is the core of Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy, discussion of this paper will focus on what Yang Zhu＇s ＂guiji＂ means, why Yang Zhu＇s ＂guiji＂ is not ＂weiwo＂ （为我, for oneself）, and how Yang Zhu＇s ＂guiji＂ yangsheng is relevant to modern society.
基金Acknowledgement： This paper is part of the Project ＂A Study on Otto Jespersen＇s Ideas of Phonological Evolution （ 1886-1941 ）＂, supported by National Social Science Foundation of China （16BYY007）.
文摘Despite its role in literature, especially in poetics, sound symbolism does not traditionally enjoy a high esteem in linguistics. Ever since the scientific study of language was revolutionized by the Swiss structuralist pioneer Ferdinand de Saussure, sound symbolism tended to be restricted to some peripheral linguistic phenomena. The present essay is an interpretation of first-hand texts. It explores the development of the linguistic idea of sound symbolism scattered in the both linguistic and non-linguistic texts published in German, French, English and other languages. These texts are found to suggest that Saussure was not the only scholar interested in this sound-sense relationship in his age, nor was his idea of arbitrariness the final word on it. The author concludes that a study on the history of sound symbolism has to be accomplished with a trans-disciplinary perspective and the support of multi-lingual texts.
文摘This thesis mainly analyses the criticism in The picture of Dorian Gray of Oscar Wilde. Firstly, from social background and personal characteristics, it introduces the cause of criticism. Secondly, it demonstrates the concrete connotation of criticism by criticizing traditional values. Lastly, it makes some comments on library theory and criticism of Wilde.
文摘The Fort Worth （Texas） exhibition/publication Poussin： The Early Years in Rome： The Origins of French Classicism （1988） proved to be a seminal event in Poussin scholarship. Over 200 works were put on display at the Kimbell Art Museum that revealed the formative years in the French painter＇s works. The drawings and paintings confirmed Poussin as the leading classicist in 17th century French art and expanded our appreciation of the flexibility of the artist to illustrate mythological narratives. Previous positions on the artist such as Anthony Blunt＇s, who viewed the painter as a strict classicist without a major interest in color, are now reevaluated after the Fort Worth show. The influence of the Venetian school, especially the work of Titian, emerged stronger into Poussin＇s oeuvre. It was under the classicist umbrella that the romantic verse of Ovid and the sensual color of Titian became forged into the pictures of Roman mythology. The leading source of inspiration for this work would be Ovid＇s Metamorphoses where figures change into flowers made timeless by the painter＇s brush. Just as the poet varied the structure of his narrative presentation, so too did the painter expand his approach to depicting scenes of change in a variety of formats. A key work for Poussin in these stories of change would be the Kingdom of Flora （1631） where Ovidian tales are posed as an eternal spring where the goddess distributes the flowers of the collective narrative in an olive green chitin. This paper will contribute to the position of viewing Poussin＇s art under a wider vision of classicism where flexible narrative design and sensuous color fit the mission to make art noble and timeless.
文摘In Physics B 1, Aristotle establishes a detailed definition ofphysis. For that purpose, Aristotle distinguishes physis from rechne and his domain. He did this to offer a satisfactory account of the physical being. In this process, phf;sis is defined as an immanent principle of movement and as matter and as form. As matter physis could be understood as ＂the primary underlying matter in each case, of things which have in themselves a source of their movements and changes＂. To consider physis as form Aristotle appeals to four arguments where priority of form over matter appears to be evident and where the identifying of eidos/morphe with to telos/to hou heneka will be crucial, especially for later developments. The reconstruction of Aristotle＇s reasoning on his definition ofphysis in Physics B 1 emphasizing the problems that such effort of definition implies is the purpose of this paper.
文摘In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald depicts the conflicts and contradictions between men and women about society, family, love, and money, literally mirroring the patriarchal society constantly challenged by feminism in the 1920s of America. This paper intends to compare the features of masculinism and feminism in three aspects： gender, society, and morality. Different identifications of gender role between men and women lead to female protests against male superiority and pursuits of individual liberation. Meanwhile, male unshaken egotism and gradually expanded individualism of women enable them both in lack of sound moral standards. But compared with the female, male moral pride drives them with much more proper moral judge, which reflects Fitzgerald＇s support of the masculine society. Probing into the confrontation between masculinism and feminism, it is beneficial for further study on how to achieve equal coexistence and harmony between men and women.
文摘This article looks at how cosmopolitanism--the notion of universality within a diversity of multi-cultures---has been shaping the discipline of world literature. The article encompasses chiefly three parts. The first part offers an overview of the debates on the discipline widely discussed by literary scholars such as Franco Moretti, David Damrosch and Emily Apter. I take issue with the harmonic co-existence of both local and global elements---and what I define as ＂glocality＂---in literatures to exhibit the inevitable trend of the trans-cultural, supranational and cross-historical interactions among multiple centres and/or various cities especially in the twenty-first century. I thereby argue in the second part using Leung Ping Kwan （1949-2013）＇s ＂Images of Hong Kong＂ （1992） and Louise Ho＇s two poetry pieces written in 1994 to prove how Kantian Cosmopolitan elements have deeply embedded in the poem written in a city where the West frequently interacts with the East. I conclude by stepping in further to argue that only through tolerating and mediating between the region and the globe can world literature as a discipline find its way out without fear for marginalising any of the literary pieces.
