Focusing on the perspective of social ontology and Chinese traditional philosophy, this article analyzes a Chinese aphorism (Being believed, it exists. Not being believed, it is inexistent) of individualism and existentialism. Firstly, through the interpretation and the aphorism, the origin and the evolution of the aphorism can be comprehended. Afterwards the view of Chinese people on social objects through this aphorism is explained. Finally, it is discovered that individuals frequently use this proverb as an answer for the unknown social existence and that it contains the people's self-awareness and social cognition. Meanwhile it is as well elaborated that the aphorism emphasizes the individual intentionality while ignoring the collective intentionality, which is vital in the definition of social objects in ontology.

Zeng Manyu. A Social Ontology Based Study of Individual Intentionality Expressed by a Chinese Aphorism. The Frontiers of Society, Science and Technology (2020) Vol. 2 Issue 13: 80-85. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSST.2020.021310.

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