关键词: 道, Logos, 思想文化, 汉语, 理性主义哲学

Abstract: This paper holds that the core difference between China and the west in intellectual culture is represented by “Dao” and “Logos”, which are respectively Chinese and western metaphysical conceptualization of the ultimate truth of the world. However, the two concepts differ fundamentally in that while the Dao cannot be said, the logos is embodied in language. The belief that the truth has to be said clearly and unmistakably leads to a speculative mode of thought, while the belief that the truth cannot be said results in a mysterious insightful experience. This has not much to do with the morphological types of languages. In ancient China, those who advocated the clear and unmistakable statement of what is true had already embarked on the path towards a rationalist philosophy in the true sense of the word. The Chinese language is not a barrier blocking the occurrence of speculative rationalism in China.