From experiencing philosophy to the root of language blur
December 20, 2022 10:20 Source: "China Social Sciences" December 20, 2022 Author: Li Xueting

4th century BC,Ancient Greek philosopher Eubulides first noticed the vague phenomenon,and proposed the "SORITES PARADOX"。The 20th century Western philosophy ushered in language steering,Isfred、Russell and Wittgenstein and other British and American analysis philosophers represented by British and American analysis philosophers are the primary task of philosophy,The vagueness of the language will naturally become their research object。But they did not reach a unified understanding of language blur at this time: Freder regards fuzzy as a defect of language,Wittgenstein believes that fuzzyness is one of the essential attributes of language。Systematic research on language blurry began in the 1960s。1965,U.S. Control theory expert Lotfi Aliasker Zadeh pointed out,Vague set is a category with continuous subordination level。The fuzzy theory formed by this has spawned a series of emerging disciplines,such as fuzzy mathematics、Vague logic、Vague psychology、Vague linguistics, etc.。Now,The vagueness of natural language is considered a common language phenomenon。

Language problems are often philosophical problems。So,What is the philosophical source of language blur? Throughout domestic and foreign research,The philosophical thinking that generates the root cause of the language of language can be roughly divided into four perspectives。1. The vagueness of the objective world determines the vagueness of the language。2. The limitations of human cognition bring the blur of the language。3. The limited nature of language symbols produces fuzzy language。4. The vagueness of the language is determined by the first three points,Can't analyze unilaterally。Different opinions reflect the interpretation of the fuzzy roots of the language from different angles。Objective World、The characteristics of human cognition and language symbols,It can be said that the cause of language blurring cannot be ignored。But the fundamental,These three aspects of language fuzzyness are inseparable from people's cognitive psychological activities。In view of this,This article will explore the root cause of language blurry based on the philosophical foundation of cognitive linguistics -experience philosophy (Embodied Philosophy)。

  The main point of experience of experience philosophy

Western philosophy tradition,Usually along the two roads along objectiveism and subjectivism,and penetrate the dispute between rationalism and empiricism。Until the 1980s,American philosopher、Linguist George Lakoff and Mark Johnson questioned these two philosophical research paths。

1980,Lokov and Johnson co -authored "The Metaphor of the Survival",The metaphor of the first systematic Bet365 lotto review interpretation of thinking。This is completely different from the understanding of the metaphor of the traditional philosophy of the West。Objectiveism to exclude metaphors in language as much as possible,I think the metaphorical language is a poetic language,Absolute truth,Can't be used to directly state objective、Absolute truth。Subjectiveism will split metaphor and rational phase,It is believed that metaphor is a natural reveal of emotion。Ledov and Johnson redefine the metaphor,Think that "the essence of metaphor is to understand and experience another thing"。That is to say,People always use familiarity、Specific concepts to understand strange、Abstract concept。Metaphorical thinking is both fuzzy,It is also accurate -it is the fusion of imagination and rationality,And exist in our thoughts and actions。Lokov and Johnson use conceptual metaphor as the base point,Criticizing the pursuit of the absolute truth that is independent of the subject outside the cognitive body,It also criticized the infinite respect of subjective imagination of cognitive subjects。Based on this,They proposed Experientialism,Say the new philosophical thought。

1987,Lokov in "Woman、Fire、Dangerous Things: The Book of Mind Show Display "revealed the importance of category。He thinks,"For our thoughts、Perception、Action and language,Category is the most basic way "。He criticized the classic category theory of objectiveism: people's categories of things are based on a certain necessary conditions;。On the basis of the empirical research on the category category of the "family similarity" theory of Wittgenstan's "family similarity" theory and Eleanor H. Rosch,Lokov developed the theory of prototype category: contact between different members in the category,It is not based on sufficient necessary conditions but based on family similarity; status between members is not equal,It has different typical nature;。The theory of the prototype category and the fuzzy theory has something in common,I saw the affiliation of members in the category (collection),All theoretical tools with strong language blur。

New thinking about metaphor and category,laid a solid foundation for experiencing philosophy。1999,Ledov and Johnson co -authored "Experience Philosophy: Experience the Challenge of Sexual Psychology and its challenges to Western thought",The system discusses the idea of ​​"experiencing philosophy": "The concept is born in the body、The experience of the brain and the world,and I am understood through them。The concept is through experience,Especially formed by perception and exercise ability "。Concept、category and meaning,It is not a priority,Not experience,but experience。The concept formed in the minds of the cognitive subject has a realistic basis,But it is not a mirror reflection of real Bet365 app download world machinery,Interesting interaction from the body and the environment。Based on this,Experience philosophy put forward three principles: experiential of mind、The unconsciousness of thinking and metaphoricality of the concept of abstraction。This can be seen,The real world is complex and multi -dimensional,But it doesn't matter if it is precise or blurred,Instead, the subject of cognitive subjects through physical experience and a lot of unconscious cognitive processing when they recognize the world,The category of the real world has formed fuzzy。The cognitive psychology of a person is in language、The relationship between thinking and world plays a role that cannot be ignored,The explore of language blurry is also inseparable from the analysis of cognitive psychology。

In short,Experience philosophy strictly criticized the main views of traditional empirical and rationalism,Especially when opposing the dual theory of "physical and mental separation" and "separation of the main and guests" in Western philosophy。Therefore,Experience philosophy is also considered to be the third road in Western philosophy。The point of experiencing philosophy has caused a sensation in the western philosophy,At the same time, it also has a profound impact on the development of linguistics。Below we will be based on this philosophical point of view,Discuss the root cause of the blurring of language。

  Interaction between cognitive subjects and real world

Study on the root cause of language blurred philosophy,Most of the analysis of the ambiguity of the subject and object。Scholars at home and abroad are more in -depth for research on this field,But there are still many differences。Israel Scheffler thinks,Vague nature comes from the limitations of human thinking and the fuzzyness that the natural world cannot eliminate。Wu Tieping proposed on this basis,To distinguish the blurredness and the vagueness of the body。The former refers to the vagueness of the concept in the human brain.,The latter refers to the boundary of the objective world itself,This is reflected in the language to form a language blur。and Russell thinks,Can't regard the fuzzyness of language as the vagueness of objective things。Vagueness and accuracy are just characteristics of language characterization,And things are things,It does not have fuzzy or accurate characteristics。Chen Weizhen and Wu Shixiong also pointed out,Specifications of language fuzzy as the main body of the main body and the vagueness of the body,It is likely not to see the interaction between the main and object。The differences in research above are mainly whether the language is blurred from the real world。Based on experience philosophy,We think that without the participation of the cognitive subject,will not form a language blur。

The characteristics of diversity and continuity in the world。but,Diversity bet365 Play online games and continuity are not equal to vagueness。Vagueness can only be produced when the cognitive subject tries to the diversity and continuous real world,The participation of a cognitive subject is needed。Ray Jackendoff believes,"One of the most basic cognitive ability of human beings is the ability to divide things on things"。This ability mainly stems from the economics of cognition。When the cognitive subject is recognizing and grasping the complex real world,To reduce cognitive burden,It can only give full play to the subjective initiative to perceive and find similarity between things,and divide it on it category。Therefore,When complex and multi -dimensional things and the continuous unified real world,When the human cognitive experience is classified in a limited area,Vagueness will naturally produce。The ambiguity here includes two points。First, incorporate unlimited things into a limited area,The category itself cannot have a unified characteristic characteristic,This makes members of the category with affiliation。Second, it is time to divide the continuous world,No matter what method, cut points,Advanced agencies between adjacent categories,The boundary boundary is always blurred。

Taking the color category as an example。Color is our basic understanding of the world。But to some extent,There is no color of the object。Color is the object that the object will reflect the light waves,Light waves enter the eyes after the eyes are transmitted。That is to say,The category of color is from the external material world and human body、The common effect of the mind。Different light reflex ratio of different objects,Therefore, the objects in people's eyes will show infinite colorful colors。Color is both diverse,Also constitutes a continuous body。But due to the principle of cognitive economy,The words used in the language to represent the color are very limited。A color word will inevitably include a variety of colors on the spectrum,It will inevitably produce fuzzy。For example,There is a color in the spectrum that most people call it "red",And the other similar color most people think it is "non -red"。The color between the two forms a vague area。To reduce cognitive burden,We will not create a color word for every red denseness,Instead, it is either expressed by adding decorative language,such as "China Red" and "Pomegranate Red", etc.;,If "This is a bit like red" or "This should not be red"。This can be seen,Blogen is produced in the interaction of cognitive subjects and real worlds,The process of this interaction is the process of cognitive subjects through the experience of the real world through experience。

 Vague thinking

The ambiguity of thinking is also the root cause of language blur。What needs to be explained is,Vague thinking does not mean purely subjective uncertainty,Instead, it bet365 Play online games refers to the vague understanding of the experience of the real world。Although humans have a strong sensory movement system and reasoning logic ability,But our understanding of the real world is always restricted by various subjective and objective factors。Experience philosophy pointed out that thinking is metaphorical and unconscious,and to time、Event and cause and effect、Mind、Self、Metaphor analysis of the five philosophical issues of morality。This fundamentally criticized the one -sided pursuit of traditional Western philosophy of thinking about thinking。

Language is the expression of thinking,Language fuzzy first comes from the metaphor of thinking。Metaphor thinking can blur the boundary between things,Make the cognitive subject discover the similarity of the body and metaphor,To understand things。Things in the real world are different,but interconnected。Construction of metaphor,It highlights the correlation and similarity of the differences between the two types of things。For example,In the slogan "Time is Money","Time" and "Money" originally belonged to two completely different cognitive domains,But the cognitive subject can ignore its differences,Similar points (all valuable) between "time" and "money",Therefore, the boundary between the two。Therefore,In language,Many words that are matched with "money" can be used to modify "time",Such as "spend time", "investment time", "saving time", "waste time", etc.。Another,Similar and differently, there are fuzzy areas,It is a bit similar、Very similar、Not so similar。Therefore,The metaphor relationship between things is not unchanged,The new metaphor is produced in these similar vague areas。

The vagueness of the language also comes from the unconsciousness of the thinking。Experience philosophy thinks,Humans have about 95%of their thinking are unconscious,That is, they cannot be clearly realized and controlled。Understand a simple daily discourse,It also needs to be automatically processed by many nerves and cognitive programs,and this processing process is complex and fast,It's incomparable to itself。Many of our awareness of the real world is unconscious,These unconscious thinking constitutes the common sense of daily unrefined (unreflective)。For example,In daily life,It is easy to distinguish the train from the aircraft according to common sense,But if you want to distinguish one aircraft and another aircraft, it is not so easy,Unless we have related professional knowledge。In fact,When people know the differences in things,It is compared in the category of different levels。For example,"Transportation → Airplane → Jet Aircraft" constitutes three different levels of categories,The category of righteousness、Basic level category and subordinate category。Unintentional bet365 Play online games distinction occurs mostly in the basic level category (Basic-Level Category),The difference between airplane and train。It is not too abstract like the category of Shangyi,It is not too precise and specific in the category of meaning。The most inclusive and most information amount of information,It has a certain vagueness。Lokov thinks,"Things in the basic levels also enter the vocabulary of the language first"。Words in the basic level,It is also the most contact in our daily life、Words with the highest frequency。This can be seen,Vagueness is one of the essential attributes of language,and is the basic way of thinking and knowledge。

  Cognitive dynamics

The vagueness of the language is also produced by the dynamics of cognition。Based on experience,The cognitive subject's understanding of the real world is not unchanged。With the increase of experience,Human understanding is constantly developing and changing,The concept in human mind is also changing。Experience philosophy regards this change process as the conceptual process。Cognitive subject's understanding of the real world,Not "either know、Either I don't know "two -value logic relationship,Instead, I never realize that I know the gradual dynamic transition。Among them, you may not know it completely、I almost don't know、Partial understanding、Partial understanding、Basic understanding and fully understanding stage。Miao Dongsheng pointed out,Because of the common and subjective common effects of objective and subjective,"People's cognition activities are a large amount of fuzzy movement process"。

The meaning of cognitive dynamics is,It breaks the pursuit of traditional philosophy on the true value conditions of meaning,Let us look at the semantics dynamically。Therefore,Semantic is not only a fixed true or false division,Instead, there is a certain extent to a certain degree of false fake。We often use "fuzzy restrictions" in daily life to reflect the understanding of things。For example,In daily life,Most of the time we will not attribute television to the furniture category,and think that it belongs to the category of electrical appliances。But if you continue to change with your understanding,We see a certain attribute of TV that can attribute it to furniture category,We will say "Strictly look at,TV is furniture ",Then the semantic value of "TV is furniture" is blurred。

In addition,Dynamic is also reflected in the dynamic conversion of vague and accuracy。The vagueness of the language is not in a static state,Instead, it is due to the continuous development of cognitive development and accuracy。Vague sex is constantly generating and developing in the transformation。For example,Many numbers used to express accurate concepts,In people's daily use, it has also become a vague language。"Three Houses" from "Zuo Zhuan · Gong Gong 32 Years",This is an accurate expression Bet365 app download of the expression of ninety miles (ancient marching in ancient times with thirty miles as one house,Sanhe is ninety miles),In the later people's use, only the concession and avoidance,Blurred the specific distance。"Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" Originally refers to the eight gods in mythology,and now it is used to indicate that everyone has their own skills,Vague the meaning of the number "eight"。other,Originally, it should be a clear boundary,With the development of people's understanding, it may also blur the boundary。such as "life" and "death" are the two concepts with clear boundaries,But in daily language,People often blur the concepts of these two。For example。These expressions are all blurred concepts。Zhang Hongshen pointed out,"Blating is the need for thinking,It is also a need for expression "。We can't just look at the root of language blur from a static perspective,It should be understood in the dynamic cognitive process。

Experience philosophy is the third philosophical path that is different from empirical and rationalism,I think language is not a direct reflection of the objective world,Human cognitive psychology plays a key role in it。Vagueness is one of the essential attributes of language。From the perspective of experience philosophy,The vagueness of the language originated from the interaction between the main and the object、Vagueness of thinking and dynamics of cognition。Discussion on the root cause of language fuzzy nature,You can dig deep into the philosophical foundation behind the language,At the same time, it can also promote the further development of fuzzy linguistics。

 (Author Unit: Institute of Foreign Languages ​​at Beijing Foreign Language University)

Editor in charge: Zhang Jing
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