A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought: A Philosophical Interpretation [Hardcover]

Chad Hansen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195067290 | ISBN-13: 978-0195067293 | Publication Date: December 31, 1992

This ambitious book presents a new interpretation of Chinese thought guided both by a philosopher's sense of mystery and by a sound philosophical theory of meaning. That dual goal, Hansen argues, requires a unified translation theory. It must provide a single coherent account of the issues that motivated both the recently untangled Chinese linguistic analysis and the familiar moral-political disputes. Hansen's unified approach uncovers a philosophical sophistication in Daoism that traditional accounts have overlooked. The Daoist theory treats the imperious intuitionism that alienates critical thinkers as a feature of Confucianism alone. Freed from the view that Confucianism is the core of Chinese thought and from myopic Confucian interpretations, Chinese thinkers emerge as unmistakably philosophical.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hansen contributes a much-needed re-assessment of Chinese philosophy....Hansen is refreshingly revisionist as his hermeneutic lays waste to such misconceptions as "THE Tao," transcendence, and unsayableness associated with dao-ism, as well as fundamental misconceptions about Chinese language and thought....His twin fortes are an almost surgical, positivist linguistic precision, cutting away at fat and exposing the bare bones, plus a holistic approach....Overall, the author's polysemous grasp of Chinese history makes his magnum opus an interdisciplinary resource, sure to be of interest to all students and scholars of comparative literature, philosophy/religion, and intellectual history."--China News Digest

"The time is ripe for this sort of wide-ranging reappraisal. I believe the book will be a major factor in setting the tone and parameters of the debate for the next decade."--Victor Mair, University of Pennsylvania

"Hansen's book is challenging and engages the reader in a direct and personal way. In addition to language and skepticism there are many topics woven into the fabric of the book which will also engage the reader."--Canadian Philosophical Reviews

"A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought is a bold book by an intellectually ambitious and always original author."--Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Chad D. Hansen is at University of Hong Kong. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 31, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195067290
• ISBN-13: 978-0195067293
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,696,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daoism is real philosophy!, March 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought: A Philosophical Interpretation (Paperback)

This book is very clearly written and sees ancient Chinese thought from a Daoist (rather than the traditional Confucian) point of view. Chad Hansen makes a detailed analysis of Confucius and Mencius though, based on their theory of language, and those chapters are exceptional too. Of course, the greatest chapter of the book is the one on Zhuangzi, that shows him to be a sophisticated thinker, having a theory of language inherited from the later Mohists that comes near in quality to Greek philosophy, although never going as far a creating a theory of reason. Highly recommended to all Daoists!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Word Magic, August 19, 2005

By 

R. Shane Griswold (Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought: A Philosophical Interpretation (Paperback)

Dr Hansen takes us on a whirlwind tour of Chinese language, history, and culture. His deep knowledge of ancient Chinese history and thought is breath-taking. Most refreshing is his positivist approach to Chinese philosophy. He posits that there will be different possible understandings of our common human situation and, like a good literary critic(!), he allows the primary texts to suggest *in their own terms* what relevant differences exist in thinking the human.

This book will be serious brain candy to anyone who has an interest in the history of ideas, comparative religion, or intercultural philosophy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, October 13, 2006

By 

J. J. Stewart - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought: A Philosophical Interpretation (Paperback)

Dr Hansen's book is a difficult read, but certainly very rewarding. Hansen is one of the finest scholars in the world on Chinese philosophy and knows his Classical Chinese inside-out. This is an important book for all serious Chinese scholars. It would probably help to have a background in formal philosophy or linguistics however. Please disregard the comment below concerning Hansen's translations. The person in question is obviously clueless.