The Inference Pattern Mou in Mohist Logic: A Monotonicity Reasoning View

Zhiqiang Sun; Fenrong Liu

doi:10.18290/rf20684-12

Zhiqiang Sun Tsinghua University, Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3815-8888
Fenrong Liu Tsinghua University, Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7931-0324

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rf20684-12

Keywords: Mohist logic, mou, monotonicity, contextual analysis

Abstract

Taking the standpoint of monotonicity reasoning, this paper provides a systematic way of looking at the inference pattern mou in the Mohist text. We have taken a logical, as well as a linguistic perspective, emphasizing features of classical Chinese, the role of context, and making use of any possible clues that we can find from the old text. By applying monotonicity rules we provide a uniform account of why shi er ran examples are valid inferences, and shi er buran examples are counter-examples.

References

van Benthem, Johan. 1986. Essays in Logical Semantics. Springer Netherlands.

van Benthem, Johan. 1991. Language in Action: Categories, Lambdas, and Dynamic Logic. North Holland.

van Benthem, Johan, and Fenrong Liu. 2020. “New Logical Perspectives on Monotonicity.” In Proceeding of the Second Tsinghua Interdisciplinary Workshop on Logic, Language, and Meaning: Monotonicity in Logic and Language. To appear.

Bi, Yuan. 2002. Mozi (Japanese edition). In Mozi Daquan. Vol. 11, edited by Ren Jiyu, 449–896. Beijing: Beijing Library Press.

Chen, Menglin.1983. Mobian Luojixue. Jinan: Qilu Press.

Fraser, Chris. 2012. “Truth in Moism.” Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 39: 351–368. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-6253.2012.01727.x

Graham, A.C. 1978. Later Mohist Logic, Ethics and Science. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

Hutton, Eric L. 2014. Xunzi: The Complete Text. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Liu, Fenrong, and Jialong Zhang. 2010. “New Perspectives on Moist Logic.” Journal of Chinese Philosophy 37 (4): 605–621.

Lucas, Thoerry. 2010. “The Logic of Mohist Reasonings; Leis and Structured Sorts.” Monthly Review of Philosophy and Culture 37 (8): 65–93.

Moss, Lawrence S. 2010. “Natural Logic and Semantics.” In Logic, Language and Meaning. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Vol. 6042, edited by Maria Aloni, Harald Bastiaanse, Tikitu de Jager, and Katrin Schulz, 84–93. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.

Sun, Zhongyuan. 1987. The History of Chinese Logic (Pre-Qin Volume). Beijing: China Renmin University Press.

Sun, Yirang. 2001. Mozi Jiangu. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.

Sun, Zhiqiang. 2020 (to appear). “A Survey on the Logical Study of Mou.” In Handbook of the History of Logical Thought in China, edited by Fenrong Liu, Jeremy M. Seligman, and Jincheng Zhai. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.

Suppes, Patrick. 1979. “Logical Inference in English: A Preliminary Analysis.” Studia Logica 38 (4): 375–391.

Wang, Xianqian. 2013. Xunzi Jijie. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.

Westerståhl, Dag, and Stanley Peter. 2006. Quantifiers in language and logic. Oxford University Press.

Westerståhl, Dag. 2012. “Classical vs. Modern Squares of Proposition, and Beyond.” In The Square of Opposition: A General Framework for Cognition, edited by Jean-Yves Beziau and Gillman Payette, 195–229. Frankfurt am Main, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Warszawa, Wien: Peter Lang.

Wu, Yujiang. 2006. Mozi Jiaozhu. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.

Xu, Yuangao. 2002. Guoyu Jijie. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.

Yu, Jin. 1984. “The Inference of ‘Mou’ in the Mohist Canons.” Journal of Teaching and Learning, (04): 83–87.

Yu, Jin. 1986. “On the Inference of ‘Mou’.” Journal of Nanjing Normal University (Social Science Edition), (02): 50–55.

Yu, Yue. 2010. Mozi Pingyi. (Chunzaitang quanshu book series, vol. 2). Nanjing: Phoenix Books.

Zhang, Jialong. 1998. “On the Validity of ‘Mou’ in the Mohist Canons.” In Selected Papers from Workshops on Chinese Mingbianxue and Methodology, on Taoism and the West, and on Feng Youlan's Philosophy, edited by Junquan Chen, 40–44. Beijing, Philosophical Research.