Date: 16 Aug 1998 10:54:07 -0700
From: "Greg Tropea" <greg_tropea-AT-macgate.csuchico.edu>
Subject: RE: binary opposition


Given common Indo-European (and, more narrowly, Aryan) roots, it makes sense 
that the Greek and Indian texts would evidence the sort of similarity Shyamal 
observes.  And if we draw the circle wide enough, binary opposition will 
present itself as universal, since there doesn't seem to be any language 
devoid of a way to express contradiction.

That doesn't, however, say anything about where one starts.  In Taoism, as in 
perception generally, the beginning is non-differentiation.  The appearance 
of yin and yang aspects in the synchronic and diachronic understandings of 
phenomena is a subsequent refinement of perception.  What's theoretically 
interesting about this is that the postmodern notion of infinite 
supplementation the text is implicit in the continuous refinement of Taoist 
alchemy and nei kung (inner discipline) practice.  

So, construing binary conceptualizations as oppositions, at least in the 
Chinese case, looks to me like a misleading collapsing of categories.  Not 
that we shouldn't try for the simplifying generalization whenever possible, 
but in this case valuable insights could get submerged.
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To: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
From: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu on Fri, Aug 14, 1998 13:52
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.


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