¶ … Analytic Philosophy in the Western Tradition

Onto-Hermeneutical Vision and Analytic Discourse: Interpretation and Reconstruction on Chinese Philosophy by Chung-Ying Cheng

This is a paper on Chinese philosophy by Chung-Ying Cheng

The author though acknowledges that a sense of knowledge and the analytic use of language have often been the guiding principles for the Greeks for presenting arguments and conclusions; in spite of knowing the overall vision of the truth. Thus, thanks to the Greeks, it has become the foundation of future development of Western philosophy in an analytic and rational yet argumentative framework. It is also precisely what is missing in today's approach, as one wishes to compare Western and Eastern philosophy in general and Greek and Chinese philosophy in particular.

Thus, according to the author, whether it is the use of different styles of language, such as that in 'lagos', or 'lingua'; or various Greek schools of mysticism and philosophy; or the modern day Descartes or Leibniz, the analytical reasoning have always sought to develop through public practical need and practical reasoning. Even when presenting comparisons between philosophical analysis, and analytic philosophy, in arriving at analytical reasoning, the later is discarded in favor of the prior, simply because analytic philosophy cannot solve such issues as being, knowledge, truth, and reality. For analytical reasoning can only be accomplished through simple human understanding, communications, and critical response for the sole purpose of meaningful analysis, to arrive at both reality and truth of the matter.

The Chinese thinkers in their philosophy on the other hand discredit any relationship between reality and appearance through the concept of 'dao'; as well as discard any differences between object and subject. Instead, the Chinese philosophy is the incorporation of concepts, identifying issues, and understanding and resolving issues through scientific developments as well as the practical needs to meet the challenges of their social development. This leads us to conclude that pursuit of truth and reality need not be restricted to the approach of Western philosophy alone. Instead, it can equally be followed through Chinese philosophy and concepts such as engaging in moral practices and socio-political developments for the sole sake of acquiring essential knowledge of both types, the scientific knowledge and the metaphysical knowledge, and arrive at reality and truth, as the ultimate objective.