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Document Details :

Title: Confucius en de correctie der namen
Subtitle: Het ontstaan van een moderne hype
Author(s): DEFOORT, Carine
Journal: Tijdschrift voor Filosofie
Volume: 82    Issue: 2   Date: 2020   
Pages: 303-325
DOI: 10.2143/TVF.82.2.3287742

Abstract :
The most straightforward way to discuss Confucius’ idea of 'correction of names' (zheng ming) seems to be by joining the current academic debate about its meaning, preferably using notions from the philosophical discipline. Rather than joining this debate, this paper describes it as historically situated knowledge, more specifically dating from the early Republican era. It argues that Hu Shi played a crucial but largely forgotten role in the creation of this topic. While a major portion of the current core of all zhengming views can be traced back to him, this core is nowadays considered a fact rather than an interpretation. By forgetting the historicity of current philosophical views, academic reflection risks fossilizing and losing its critical spirit. The mere repetition of Hu Shi’s theory is contrary to his own spirit, which was to call into question established views.

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