Language and State

A Theory of the Progress of Civilization

Xing Yu

Is the state formed because of a natural course, the making of a social contract, initial conquest, the self-defense of the community or the formation of a class society? This book eloquently argues that the state is not simply formed in one way. It contends that the state is formed because of language. This book argues that after men commence to use language, they develop various media, which extend the distance of linguistic communication and hence underlie the growth of a large community, leading to the formation of the state and the dissolution of original tribes. As the extension of linguistic communication distance leads to the disappearance of immediacy between men, men’s mutual interaction gradually, crucially relies on linguistic communication. They share information with each other, perform interpretation between each other, express attitudes to each other, and make promises to each other. They even allow for a man to issue commands to others. The state is organized in linguistic interaction. This interaction even further provides a condition for the formation of common interest of all, a foundation for the building of the state. The state is then governed in the extension of linguistic communication distance.

This may be the first political theory offered by scholars from the perspective of the philosophy of language. It is worthy of being read by those who are particularly interested in learning about the new trends of political theory in the academic community. This book is the continuity of the book Language and State: an Inquiry into the Progress of Civilization published in 2013.

University Press of America

Pages: 566 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-6640-4 • Hardback • October 2015 • $116.00 • (£75.00)

978-0-7618-6641-1 • eBook • October 2015 • $110.00 • (£75.00)

Subjects: Political Science / History & Theory, Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication Studies, Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / Historical & Comparative, Political Science / Civics & Citizenship, Political Science / Political Freedom

Language and State

A Theory of the Progress of Civilization

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Is the state formed because of a natural course, the making of a social contract, initial conquest, the self-defense of the community or the formation of a class society? This book eloquently argues that the state is not simply formed in one way. It contends that the state is formed because of language. This book argues that after men commence to use language, they develop various media, which extend the distance of linguistic communication and hence underlie the growth of a large community, leading to the formation of the state and the dissolution of original tribes. As the extension of linguistic communication distance leads to the disappearance of immediacy between men, men’s mutual interaction gradually, crucially relies on linguistic communication. They share information with each other, perform interpretation between each other, express attitudes to each other, and make promises to each other. They even allow for a man to issue commands to others. The state is organized in linguistic interaction. This interaction even further provides a condition for the formation of common interest of all, a foundation for the building of the state. The state is then governed in the extension of linguistic communication distance.

This may be the first political theory offered by scholars from the perspective of the philosophy of language. It is worthy of being read by those who are particularly interested in learning about the new trends of political theory in the academic community. This book is the continuity of the book Language and State: an Inquiry into the Progress of Civilization published in 2013.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 566 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-6640-4 • Hardback • October 2015 • $116.00 • (£75.00)

978-0-7618-6641-1 • eBook • October 2015 • $110.00 • (£75.00)

Subjects: Political Science / History & Theory, Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication Studies, Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / Historical & Comparative, Political Science / Civics & Citizenship, Political Science / Political Freedom

Author

Xing Yu, a political scientist, was born in 1955 in Nanjing, China. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the Sichuan Foreign Languages Institute in Chongqing, China and a Master of Laws degree from Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

Table of Contents

Prologue
Part One: Language and State Communication
Introduction
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Part Two: Language and State Organization
Introduction
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Part Three: Language and State Rationality
Introduction
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Conclusion
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Language and State

A Theory of the Progress of Civilization

Xing Yu

Language and State

A Theory of the Progress of Civilization

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