| This article aims to give a new interpretation on "Tui-Lei" in Mohist from the viewpoint of argumentation. In tradition, the scholars are apt to discuss the Chinese unique logic concept "Tui-Lei" in the view of formal logic in western, and regard the "Tui-Lei" as the analogy inference. I retort the viewpoint firstly, because I find the "Tui-Lei" has not only the nature of analogy inference, but also has the nature of induction and deduction after a detailed analysis to the works of the Mohist. Thus I attempt to interpret in a new way of argumentation, and conclude the nature of "Tui-Lei" as the servant of the Chinese traditional practice "Bian". Xiaoqu is the essential digestion of Mo Bian, and it sets the functions and principles succinctly.Specifically, I try to construct the theoretical model of "Tui-Lei" in the reference of Toulmin’s model of arguementation. The comparabilities include three main points: they both pay attention to the debate practices in the daily reasoning and make services for the "Bian"; they both understand the reasoning as the process of argumentation; and they both lay emphasis on the specific situations but not through a abstract way.Toulmin’s theory of argumentation has three basic elements:data, claim and warrant. Data is equivalent to the proof, and warrant is the bridge between the proof and claim. Thus who guarantees the warrant further more? Toulmin adds backing as another element who can provide the proof with warrant."Tui-Lei" in Mo Bian basically has three elements called the doctrine of Three things:Li, Gu, Lei, and they three conjointly constitute Ci. Contrast with Toulmin’s theory, Ci functions just like the "claim", and Gu is "data" in essence, then Li is the warrant from the Gu to Ci. Lei is the base of all above. After detailed investigations, I construct the model of "Tui-Lei" drewing the method of Toulmin, and find that different Lei relies on different Li. Lei and Li both works as the "warrant" in fact. |
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