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Document Details : Title: Threading, Stitching, and Weaving Subtitle: An Exploration of Referencing and Inferencing Processes in Cross-Civilizational Communication Author(s): ZHANG, Shanruo Journal: Ethical Perspectives Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Date: 2022 Pages: 455-478 DOI: 10.2143/EP.29.4.3291690 Abstract : Bell and Wang acknowledge in Just Hierarchy that the persuasive power of their arguments is likely to be much higher in Confucian societies. But what exactly do the ‘Chinese/Confucian experiences’ of the readers, Chinese or Western, deliver in their learning process? I argue that writers rely on their readers’ familiarity with and ability to access validating references as well as rationalizing inference licenses to bring the new knowledge to life. Drawing on recent progresses in Western philosophy about language, reasoning, and argumentation, I examine how references and inferences work in this profoundly challenging and uniquely exciting cross-civilizational communication process between China and the West and discuss measures that would advance our epistemological and methodological endeavours in this direction. |
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