Argument

Abstract

The Chinese word for “argument” is 辯 bian. Its graphic form consists of two characters: One is 辡 (bian), which means “two parties involved in a lawsuit”; the other is 言 (yan), which means “speaking.” Any Chinese word that has 言 as its radical or component necessarily refers to speaking-related matters. In the graphic form of bian, yan is placed between the two arguing parties of a lawsuit. This metaphorically displays three aspects of the semantic scope of the word. First, bian originates in argument; where there is no argument, there would be no lawsuit. Thus, an argument is the basis of bian. Second, to settle a lawsuit is to make a judgment by examining the argument in the lawsuit. Hence, examination is the means of conducting bian. It is in this sense that the word “bian” is defined in the Shuo Wen Jie Zi . Third, to make a judgment by examining the argument in a lawsuit is to distinguish right from wrong. Only when right has been distinguished from wrong is an argument settled. So discrimination is the aim of bian. It is important to mention that the discourse on ming and shi was itself an argument about how to understand the relationship between language and reality. Being aware of this fact, ancient Chinese thinkers necessarily discussed three questions: Why is there bian? How does “great bian” (大辯) differ from “small bian” (小辯)? And what are the criteria of bian?