Exploring The Methodology Of Comparative Thinking

The comparative thinking method is an important thinking and cognition method in scientific research. This thesis makes every effort to explore the basic theory, the difference and relations between comparative method and other methods, cognitive mechanism and cognitive function of the comparative thinking method in depth.The comparative thinking method is a logic method which can determine the similarity and the dissimilarity between the objects of study. It has some methodology characteristics, such as overall analyticity, widespread applicability, and flexibility. The comparative thinking method connects with analogy and metaphor and has the same thinking foundation. The thinking methods of analogy and metaphor are both based on the comparative thinking.The comparative thinking method has many kinds of types. The main common types are as follows: Identity-Diversity comparative method, Nature-Relations comparative method, Structure-Function comparative method, Simultaneity-Duration comparative method, and Qualitative-Quantitative comparative method.The comparative thinking method has its profound epistemology foundation. The form of humanity's thinking is the unification of thinking and the existence. The thinking is the product of both nature and society. At the same time, the essence of thinking is that it is active reflect of the subject to the object. From the objective aspect, the universal relation between objective things constitutes the objective foundation of comparative thinking method and this caused the possibility of comparison. Objective existence of many homogeneous and isomorphic or opposite things and phenomena has provided the premise and foundational condition for the formation of comparative thinking.From the subjective aspect, as the operator of thinking method and the main body of cognition, the humanity has the cognition rationality and wisdom of thinking which enables the comparative thinking method has been utilized. First, the comparative consciousness is a basic psychological function of humanity. It is also one of the main driving thrust in intelligence activity of human society, and has been going with person's entire cognition process. Even the emotion or mood of the person and the expression of the will concerns with the comparative thinking. Second, the humanity has the wisdom of comparative thinking. Comparison is humanity's foundational thinking skill and the way of expression. Comparative thinking method is also close related with person's reason, judgment and choice. The people accumulated the experience of utilizing the comparative method and then trusted the comparative thinking method. Finally, comparative thinking method can help humanity to comprehensively understand objective things and can impel the development of cognition practical ability. Moreover, comparison can transmit the philosophic theory and the emotion effectively.In order to guarantee the validity of comparative thinking method's and avoid the unreasonable comparing as far as possible, using the comparative thinking method must insist the comparability of comparative standard, the integrity and the hierarchical of analysis, and must pay attention to holds the essential attribute of comparative object. Furthermore, the comparative thinking method must combine closely with other methods.