The role of logic in the development of Chinese philosophy

The three major civilization systems in the world have deep historical and cultural accumulation and the evolution of the knowledge system, and logic plays a demonstration and foundation in their respective knowledge systems. The Chinese civilization has been stretched for thousands of years, forming its unique value system. The excellent traditional Chinese culture has become the gene of the Chinese nation, which profoundly affects the Chinese thinking and behavior. To build China's independent knowledge system, it is necessary to find the source water from the excellent traditional culture of China, and further promote the creative transformation and innovative development of the excellent traditional culture of China.

The development of traditional Chinese philosophy has continued from the pre -Qin Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Accompanied by the evolution of traditional Chinese philosophy, there must be a logical demonstration of the foundation role in the development of Chinese philosophy. Therefore, Chinese logic also has a corresponding development process. Therefore, we need to understand the ideological characteristics of Chinese logical demonstrations based on the ideological ecology of Chinese traditional culture, rather than the logic of foreign logic to tap Chinese logic.

The development of philosophy is inseparable from logic support and demonstration

Logic is the science of instrumental argumentation. Ancient Greek logic, Indian logic (Yinming) and Chinese logic (generally known as "famous debate") are known as the three major sources of ancient logic in the world. Logic is the foundation and foundation of philosophy. Different philosophical traditions have different logic as a demonstration tool. Western philosophy has always been developed from ancient times to the present. It has always been traditional logic and modern logic as a demonstration tool for different forms of philosophy. Because of the component of the Indian "Wuming" knowledge system, it is also the tools of Neiming. Chinese traditional philosophy has continued to develop from the pre -Qin Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, showing different ideological forms at different historical stages. Therefore, with the evolution of traditional Chinese philosophy, there must be logical demonstrations that play a foundation role in the development of Chinese philosophy.

Although many scholars in modern times have realized the close relationship between philosophy and logic, the views they put forward at different logic at different stages of Chinese philosophy seemed to be difficult to establish. They believe that the first ancient to Qin is famous or argued that it is China's own logic; from the late Ming Dynasty to the end of the Ming Dynasty, it is India Yinming, which is introduced from India; Enter. Historically, although India has spread and developed in China, the development of Chinese philosophy in Han to Ming Dynasty has not had a global impact; Western logic was introduced to China for the first time in the late Ming Dynasty to the beginning of the Qing Dynasty. There is no direct connection between traditional Chinese philosophy, let alone the impact and demonstration of traditional Chinese philosophy.

Chinese logic occurs and grows in the specific ideological ecology of traditional Chinese academic and culture. We have no reason to discuss Chinese logic from opening this ideological ecology. In this sense, the Chinese logic that supports the development and evolution of traditional Chinese philosophy is not the "name debate" obtained by the sorting of the traditional Western logic teaching system today. Therefore, we need to re -understand the logic of Chinese culture from the perspective of logic and philosophy.

In previous studies, "debate" is generally used as the object of Chinese logic, and it is interpreted as argument and debate. Even if "distinguished" appears, it is also used as a fake word solution, which basically does not distinguish. According to general understanding, the logic is mainly thinking activities and processes, and the argument is more manifested as language and other related activities and processes. Therefore, this part of the doctrine based on debate can not constitute the main content of Chinese logic. If "debate" as "discern", it not only includes the language activities of the conversation, but also expand to human thinking activities and cognitive activities. Thinking activities organically combined together, and also organically linked with the relevant themes of Chinese philosophy discussions at different stages.

The "debate" of China, which is "talked about"

"Debate" should be generally applicable if it is a tool with argumentation. However, "debate" as language and other related activities and processes has its special background. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, "learning in the government", the class class had no independent conditions. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the style of adoptives of the vassal states prevailed, and private science began to appear. Among them, Confucianism and Mozo were the most active and were known as "Xue Xue". The vassal states also scrambled to meet the scholars, providing a talent foundation for the formation of the struggle of hundreds.

In the process of explaining their own ideas, the sons often quoted relevant historical materials such as "Shangshu" and "Book of Songs" to prove their views. In this way, different claims from the same historical materials. This requires Zhuzi to use the method of talking and defense to explain and demonstrate his views, criticize and refute the claims of others.

The sons' attitude towards "debate" is not exactly the same. Although Mencius was unwilling to argue in the process of "distance and ink", he had to use the way of "debate "-" to be good to argue, and he had to have it. " Xunzi believes that the argument is a basic condition of a gentleman, which clearly proposes that "gentleman must debate." He believes that the purpose of debate is not to fight for victory, but to teach rituals and "take the paddle" (with paddles to board the ship).

The Mo Family has a "discussion" subject, advocating "the ability to talk to the debate, the person who can speak, and the person who can engage in." At the same time, the Mo family also regarded "debate" as the basic condition of "virtuous men". However, unlike Xunzi, the Mo family advocated, "debate, fight for each other. Winning, should also be", debate to win.

Han Feizi believes that arguments are illegal, unable or empty, and unrealistic words. It is regarded as "the resignation of popularity." The argument that popularity is directly harmful to the establishment of feudal monarchy's autocratic rule. Specifically, arguing that popularity can make people doubt, bad owners, troubled times, and even dead. Therefore, these "obscenity" and "argument" must be eliminated. The basic understanding of the sons, the "debate" obviously has the political stance and ideological tendency of each family. It does not have general logical demonstration tools, but a argument that expresses and explain its respective claims.

As a "different difference" in China

During the pre -Qin period, the core issue of Chinese logical discussion was "rectification", that is, the basis of the real relationship was to discard the facts, the divisions were classified, and realized the correct understanding of the name. At this point, the pre -Qin sons show high consistency. Although the ideas of the sons are different, the understanding of the basic issue of the name of the name is consistent. Han Fei has "provincial similar differences", Xunzi has "distinguished the same difference", the Mo family has "the same difference", and so on, based on the identification of the same difference, to achieve the name.

If we replace "debate" with "discern", how can we re -understand China's logic? Here, take the most classic "debate" of the Moh family as an example: "The husband and argument will take the division of right and wrong, the discipline of the trial and chaos, the same difference between the same differences, the principle of the name, the interests, the suspicion of the suspicion, the suspicion . 之。。。。。。。。。。。。. Seeking everyone. "The key to understanding this passage is how to explain" debate ". If it is explained as argument and debate, then the six tasks involved in the "debate" can only be fully realized by "debate". In the "Mozi School Note" written by Wu Yujiang, there is a saying "'debate', Lu Ben and Mao Ben's" discern ". If the "debate" is interpreted as "discern", it not only includes the language activities of the conversation, but also expand to human thinking activities and cognitive activities. "Distinguish" is organically combined with the obsession and discernic. In this way, it is based on the name of the reign, "with the name of the name, the expression of the words, and the reason for the reason". It can be solved as: simulate the meaning of the name, use the word to express the meaning of the name, and explain the name. Based on meaning. The purpose of identifying is "to make all things, the ratio of group words", explore the of all things, and judge the words of each family; Class is a complete authentic process, not a simple correspondence with the concept, judgment, and reasoning of the traditional logic of the West.

Similarly, there are similar questions about the interpretation of Xunzi's "Rective Name". Xunzi raised: "The name is also, so it is also strong. The real name is also the way of moving to quiet. Those who are dead are also used. The use of discern also. If you say that you are also the Tao of the Tao, the heart of the heart, the Taoist slaughter. Yu Dao, saying that it is in line with the heart, resigning to say. "In the past, it was interpreted as the concept, judgment, and reasoning of the name, resignation, and identification of the name, resignation, and discern of the Western logic. Ignoring the relationship with the mind and the Taoism, did not make a deeper discussion on the role of "the mind to the Tao, the saying to the heart, and resigning to the saying".

Cultural attributes of Chinese logic

According to the traditional Chinese ideological ecology, the ideological traits of Chinese logic are mainly reflected in three aspects:

The first is the Chinese logic of academic trend. Chinese logical demonstrations appear as an academic trend in the form of cognitive methods. The pre -Qin sons discussed various issues related to names without exception. The sons take the "rectification of name" as their own responsibility. Based on the same relationships, they propose methods such as "pushing" and "degree", which reflects the characteristics of Chinese logical demonstration as a tool and has the characteristics of universality.

The second is the Chinese logic of philosophy. In the process of discussing the real relationship, the pre -Qin sons involved the origin of all things. The understanding and expression of this issue in Chinese and Western philosophy have essential differences, and this difference also directly affects the development trend of the two logic. In addition, some issues discussed in the pre -Qin period, such as famous quotes, fingers, etc., are all -related and philosophical issues related to logic; Become one of the themes of Chinese philosophy and logic during this period.

The third is the Chinese logic as a cultural trend. The important carrier of traditional Chinese culture is the ancient Chinese knowledge system. The sons have their own contributions to this, reflecting the value concepts of each faction and reflecting their cultural characteristics. Although the value concepts of each family are different, its orientation is basically the same, that is, the world is the responsibility. These value concepts reflect the common characteristics in the way of thinking, that is, under the concept of the unity of heaven and people, based on the same type of different kinds of different kinds, the basic method is used to explore all things and everything in the world.

It can be seen from the above that Chinese logic, as academic trends, philosophy, and cultural trends, has a foundation role in promoting the development of philosophical development. As an academic trend, it reflects the content of Chinese philosophy; as a trend of philosophy, it reflects the basic concepts and ways of thinking of traditional Chinese philosophy; as a cultural trend, it reflects the value concept orientation of traditional Chinese culture. The interconnection and complementarity between the three constitute the overall characteristics of China's logic.

(Author: Zhai Jincheng, dean and professor of the School of Philosophy of Nankai University)

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