Yes, Western Logic Applies to Gong Sunlong and Mozi!

10.7065/MRPC.200312.0025

Thierry Lucas

western logic ； contemporary logic ； logic of sorts ； Gong Sunlong(Kung Sun Lung) ； Mozi(Motzu)

哲學與文化

30卷12期（2003 / 12 / 01）

25 - 38

英文

In this informal paper, we argue that logic is the general study of reasoning but that it depends on the type of objects we are talking about. There is indeed much more to ”western” logic than traditional syllogistic theory and we give numerous important examples of such contemporary variations of logic, among which the logic of sorts. We indicate how to apply that logic of sorts to revisit Gong Sunlong and Mozi, to reveal and compare their ontology. We mention that similar ideas have been successfully applied to Aristotle himself! We conclude that contemporary ”western” logic is a useful tool in the study of ancient authors.