The School of Logicians, or School of Names, was born under the backdrop of tumultuous social chaos in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475BC) when the Chinese social structure experienced major changes. There are two sources in this origin of the thought, Confucianism and Mohism. In addition, Legalism and Taoism also influenced School of Logicians in their own ways.

The Logicians dealt with the relation of names to realities. They were thought to have emerged from officers concerned with rank and position in the court and with the ceremonies to which such rank and position entitled an officer.

The School of Logicians philosophy is said to have parallels with that of the Ancient Greek sophists or dialecticians. However, the school does not enjoy a very high position in traditional Chinese studies, and its influence is very limited.

  Important philosopher

Gongsun Longzi is a noted member of the School of Logicians in Chinese philosophy. Gongsun lived during the Warring States Period. His most famous work is called Bai Ma Fei Ma, literally, "A white horse is not a horse." The book is structured as conversation between two parties, with one party proclaiming truth in the statement and the other questioning it. The argument plays upon the dual semantic meanings of informal language, in particular the dual interpretations of 'is', being either:
"Is a member of the class entitled (x)," or "Is identical to concept (x)."

Thus, a white horse is not a horse, because the concept of a white horse is not the same as the concept of a horse.

Author: Jeff