荀子〈正名〉篇談到名的產生、制名樞要、正名目的與 用名三惑,後人多與名家相關聯。但這樣的理解實將荀子思想斷為 兩截,即禮義之道與名學議題。唐君毅先生有鑑於此,透過〈正名 篇〉的解析指出荀子與《墨辯》、惠施、公孫龍的名學思想的殊異, 認為荀子的正名不是關注名實相應的名學議題,而是將「名」放在 名的產生、制名樞要、正名的目標的脈絡下,提出「名有固善」又 能指實,這才是荀子正名思想的深意,而非落在邏輯理論或知識討 論。唐氏的論點為荀子思想的一貫性提出說明,雖然部分說法有待 商榷,但仍為研究荀子思想提供值得參考的方向。
Xunzi Chapter of “Rectification of Names” talks about the generation of names, the key point of naming, the purpose of naming and three confusion of using name. There are lot of people associated with the School of Names. But such an understanding divides Xunzi’s thought into two parts, that is, the way of rite and righteousness and the subject of School of Names. Mr. Tang has a view of this, by comparing the Logic thought between “Chapter of Rectification of Names” , Mobian, Hui Shi, and Gongsun Longzi, pointed out that Xunzi is different from the position of Mohism, Hui Shi and Gongsun Long. Xunzi’s Rectification of Names of is not concerned with the topic of Name corresponding. His point is putting “name” under the context of the generation of names, the key point of naming, the purpose of naming, puts forward that “the name has its solid good” and can refer to the truth. This is indeed the deep meaning of rectification of names, rather than falling into the logic theory or Knowledge discussion. Tang’s argument provided an consistency describing the thought of Xunzi. Although some of the arguments are open to question, it still provides a valuable direction for studying Xunzi’s thought.