ANALYZING ARGUMENTS IN CHINESE VILLAGES - HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL-ASPECTS OF AGREEMENTS AS REGARDS FAIR AND REASONABLE ACTS

The numerous historical ruptures in Chinese society over the last cent ury have led to a multiplication in the number of conflicts related to the introduction of different standards and principles used to interp ret new situations and to decide on the right and reasonable way to ac t. Analyzing arguments observed in several Chinese villages has shown that in spite of frequently resorting to force in order to settle the arguments, moments of discussion can occur, during which, certain argu ments are rejected and others accepted as valid, the most reasonable p osition being the one which does not relate to the immediate present b ut which takes into account a succession of several principles, and at tempts to bring them together in new ways.