Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 08:42:52 +0500
From: Shyamal Gupta <shyamal-AT-iname.com>
Subject: Re: binary opposition


At 10:12 AM 8/11/98 BST, you wrote:
>Isn't the central thesis of Taoism the essential unity of the binary: 
>ying and yang?  My main source for this is, of course, Western, an 
>introduction by Watts(?).

Same here -- and it does seem to be one of the central frames.

While the notion of binary oppositions may be found in Greek text, the
basic philosophy and notions of dualities are also found in ancient Chinese
and Indian works. Perhaps in others as well.

In India, for instance, the ancient texts of both Yoga and Samkhya have
both implicit and explicit references.

e.g., one that I use extensively (and translated to English) is something
of the nature : "that which is, and that which is not, together make the
whole truth." This is taken almost straight from Yoga.

It's very likely to be very universal, as Jack Holtsmark reflects.


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Shyamal Gupta
25D, Selimpore Road, Calcutta 700 031. INDIA
Voice/Fax : 91-33-4736164
E-Mail : shyamal-AT-iname.com 
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