Gōngsūn Lóng zǐ 公孫龍子
Master Gōngsūn Lóng
attributed to 公孫龍 (Gōngsūn Lóng)
The foundational text of the Chinese School of Names (Míng jiā 名家) — Gōngsūn Lóng’s treatise on logical-semantic paradoxes. Contains the famous “white horse is not horse” (bái mǎ fēi mǎ 白馬非馬) and “pointing to non-pointing” (zhǐ wù lùn 指物論) arguments. The received 6-chapter text is a Hàn compilation. Preserved as DZ 1172 / CT 1172 (Tài qīng bù 太清部).
Dating. Core Warring-States, received recension Hàn. Dynasty: 戰國-漢.
Translations and research
- Graham, A. C. Later Mohist Logic, Ethics and Science. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 1978. Essential treatment of School of Names.
- Harbsmeier, Christoph. Science and Civilisation in China, vol. VII.1: Language and Logic. Cambridge UP, 1998.