The Development of the Logical Method in Ancient China

That philosophy is conditioned by its method, and that the development of philosophy is dependent upon the development of the logical method, are facts which find abundant illustrations in the history of philosophy both of the West and of the East. Modern philosophy in Continental Europe and in England began with a Discourse on Method and a Novum Organum. But the history of modern philosophy in China furnishes a still more instructive illustration. When the philosophers of the Sung dynasty (960-1277 A.D.), especially Cheng Hao (1032-1085) and his brother Cheng Yi (1033-1108), sought to revive the Confucian philosophy, they discovered a little book entitled Ta Hsuoh (“The Great Learning”) which had for over a thousand years remained one of the forty odd books in the collection known as the Li Ki. This little book of about 1750 words otf unknown authorship, was then singled out from the Li Ki and later exalted to the enviable position of one of the “Four Books” of Confucianism. The reason for this interesting incident lies in the fact that these philosophers were looking for a Discourse on Method, and found in this little book the only work of the Confucian school which furnished what they considered a workable logical method. The main thesis in this book is summed up in the following passage: