Chapter 8 Chapter Eight Three Tables

Among Mozi's theories, his epistemology is a more glorious part, with a materialist viewpoint.The method of understanding objective things and the standard for checking the reliability of understanding proposed by him are the famous "three tables" or "three methods". Both "table" and "law" mean signs and standards. The "three forms" are the three criteria for judging whether the understanding is correct or not.In "Fate" said: Words must have three expressions.What are the three tables?Zi Mozi said: Those who have the foundation, those who have the original, and those who are useful.Where is it based?The first book is about the ancient sage kings.Where did it come from?Xiayuan observes the reality of the people's eyes and ears.What is it used for?The abolition (fa) is regarded as criminal administration, and the interests of the people of the country and the people are considered.

There are similar descriptions in "Fei Ming" and "Fei Ming Xia", and here we only elaborate on the "three forms" of "Fei Ming Shang".As for the "three methods", that is, the three tables in the previous part, I will not repeat them. The first statement of Mozi believes that to judge whether something is true or false, one should not just rely on subjective impressions, but must have historical basis and previous experience.This is what he called "the thing that is based on the ancient sage kings".Both Mozi and Confucius were learned people at that time. In the "Mozi" we read today, there are many places citing "Shangshu", and also citing the history of Zhou, Zheng, Yan, Qi and other countries at that time— - "Spring and Autumn".Mozi didn't drop his book bag on purpose to show off his erudition, but to prove that his argument is well-founded. He wanted to find indirect experience from the experience of predecessors and historical records.Indirect experience is essential in the process of cognition, which is one of the characteristics of human cognition, which is not found in other animals.

Mozi often used this weapon in his debates with his opponents.When Mozi refuted the proposition of the theory of destiny, he cited some ancient examples as evidence.He said: The ancients caused chaos by Jie, and Tang received it and ruled it.King Wu took over the chaos caused by Zhou and ruled it.This world has not changed, and the people have not changed. If it lies in Jie and Zhou, the world will be chaotic. If it lies in Tang and Wu, the world will be governed. How can it be called destiny? ("Unfortunately") Mozi further questioned those who believed in destiny and said: "The constitution of the former kings also said: blessings must not be invited, but disasters must not be concealed (violation). Respect is useless, and violence does not hurt people? ... There are also punishments of the former kings. Said: "Fortune cannot be invited, misfortune cannot be concealed. Respect is of no benefit, and violence has no harm?"...The oath of the former kings has also been said: "Fortune cannot be invited, and misfortune cannot be concealed. Respect is of no benefit, and violence will not hurt?" ("Fei Ming "On") Mozi's theory of fatalism dealt a powerful blow to the determinists at that time.

The second statement of Mozi believes that judging the truth of things should be based on "the reality of the people's eyes and ears", that is to say, the people's personal experience should be used as the standard, not just subjective imagination.He has also used this weapon in his debates against the determinists.He asked those who believed in destiny and said: The reason why I know the existence and death of fate ("death" means "nothing") is to know existence and death through the emotions of everyone's ears and eyes.If you hear about it, if you see it, it is called existence.Don't hear about it, don't see it, that's death. ("Non-Hit")

Mozi also said, but in fact, from ancient times to the present, "Have you ever seen the things of fate and heard the sound of fate? It has never happened" ("Fei Hit").The sensory experience of eyes and ears is the direct source of knowledge, and correct knowledge can be obtained through direct experience, which is the way of general cognition.We must be sure that Mozi was right when he raised this point.But not all the objects of knowledge can be directly contacted by the senses. For example, the "fate" mentioned by Mozi above is an abstract noun at all. Even if it exists, it is something invisible and intangible.When Mozi attacks others, he often says that they "do not know the class". Regarding this issue, Mozi himself has committed the problem of "not knowing the class".If someone uses Mozi's method to refute Mozi, ask him, ask him to show the shape and sound of "righteousness" for everyone to see, Mozi will definitely not be able to show it.This is where Mozi's thinking is not rigorous enough.

The importance of the first table and the second table has been mentioned above, but Mozi's epistemology is not strictly in line with scientific standards of epistemology.The main shortcoming of Mozi's epistemology lies in his inability to distinguish the dialectical relationship between perceptual knowledge and rational knowledge, which are both different and related in essence.Mozi's epistemology rests more on sensory experience (some from the ancients - the first form, some from the present - the second form), while ignoring the importance of rational knowledge.The main thing here is that he does not understand the role of practice in the process of cognition.Therefore, Mozi knows that it is easy to make mistakes based on subjective impressions (this is correct), but he often regards some so-called "experiences" in the past and the present that cannot be verified through practice as the basis for measuring the truth of things. standard, this is clearly not true.

The first table and the second table proposed by Mozi are the first step in the materialist theory of knowledge. Knowledge must be through sensation, direct experience and indirect experience.But it is not enough to stop at this step. If perceptual knowledge does not rise to rational knowledge, people cannot understand the essence of things, and scientific knowledge cannot be formed. Regarding the third form, Mozi believed that judging the truth or falsehood of a matter should be based on "the punishment is based on punishment, and the interests of the people of the country and the people" should be considered.This is the most important and fundamental way of thinking in Mozi's epistemology.Mozi opposed war and the extravagant and wasteful life of hereditary aristocrats. Even the most criticized articles in "Tianzhi", "Minggui" and "Shangtong" all followed this standard, that is, whether they fit or not " The interests of the people of the country and the people" are the starting point.Many of the rich and progressive factors in Mozi's thought, which are people-oriented, were developed under the guidance of this standard.

Of course, the third table also has shortcomings. Mozi often sees that there is no contradiction between the interests of the country and the people. In fact, the requirements and interests of the princes and lords and the people are very different. There are both commonalities and contradictions between the two. Therefore, the "benefits of the people of the country" he proposed lost the standard.As a result, Mozi's subjective wishes and objective facts often contradict each other. In short, the fundamental spirit of Mozi's way of thinking and the criteria for judging truth ("Three Tables") is materialistic.Mozi believes that the general spirit and method of judging things is to oppose subjectivity and believe in objectivity.His "three tables" are all proposed to prevent one-sidedness and subjectivity in understanding. The "three tables" are also based on experience (the first table, the second table), and judgments are made based on objective effects (the third table).The shortcoming is that he did not carry out materialism to the end.

It should be pointed out that Mozi did not understand the dialectical unity relationship between cognition and practice (analyzed above), but it is not that he is completely ignorant of the importance of practice.Mozi still attached great importance to the effect of objective practice on certain issues.He once said in "Pillars of Plowing": If words are enough to carry out actions, do so often; And said: Words are enough to move, often, those who are not enough to move, don't always. Now Gu [Gu Gu] said: The giant is white, and the Qiang is black.Although the eyesight is not easy.Both white and black, so that the blind will take it, and it is impossible to know.That's why I said: "The blind don't know black and white, not because of their names, but because of their names." ("Guiyi" chapter)

What Mozi means here is to say that those arguments that can stand the test of practice should be valued; those that cannot stand the test of practice should not be valued.Now if a blind man says: "Ju is white, Qian is black", even a discerning person cannot say that he is wrong.But if you mix white and black together and ask a blind man to choose, he won't be able to tell the difference.Therefore, blind people do not know black and white, not by what they say, but by their choices.Judging from the above words, it is not that Mozi is completely ignorant of the role of practice in understanding, and he also admits that practice is an objective criterion for distinguishing true from false.These are all materialistic factors in his theory of knowledge.However, when encountering other problems, such as religious and superstitious records in ancient legends, he gave up the scientific principle of checking the truth with practice.

Since Mozi and his disciples were born in the labor class with rich production knowledge, and they can also make the equipment for defending the city, it is sufficient proof that they have certain scientific knowledge. On the basis of their scientific practice, they will produce spontaneous The epistemology of the materialist tendency, which is completely understandable.Facts tell us that there are many scientists who, although spontaneously materialist in certain small areas of their research, are complex in nature in the wider field of knowledge, especially with regard to social, cultural, and historical developments. In the face of various and changing phenomena, they can easily become idealists.Mozi's view of society and history is also idealist, but there are materialistic factors in his epistemology. This contradiction is not only not surprising, but understandable. In addition, Mozi raised the importance of reasoning in the way of thinking: Peng Qingsheng's son said: You can know the past, but you can't know the coming.Zimozi said: If you set up your family and (your) relatives are hundreds of miles away, you will die.The period is one day, if you reach it, you will live, if you don't reach it, you will die.Now there are solid chariots and good horses here, and there are slaves and horses with round wheels at the four corners, so that the son can choose which one to ride, and where will the son ride?Confrontation: Take a good horse and solid car, you can arrive quickly.Zimozi said: How can you not know the future (how can you say that the future cannot be known)? ("Lu Wen" chapter) Mozi was also the first to put forward the concept of "class" with scientific significance.Point out the importance of logical "definition" (definition).Mozi often refuted the opponent by exposing the confusion of the opponent's classification concept.For example, Gongshu Pan only knew that one person should not be killed for no reason, but he built a ladder for Chu to attack Song, and planned to kill many people.In the chapter "Gongshu", Mozi once accused him of "killing the many without killing the few, which cannot be called knowing the class", and refuted Gongshu so much that he had nothing to say.Mozi's understanding of "definition" is also quite clear.Here's a famous debate: Mozi asked Confucianists: Why is it joy?Said: "Let's be happy."Zi Mozi said: I should not answer you.Now I ask: Why is it a room?Said: How to avoid the cold in winter, and how to escape the heat in summer, people think that men and women are different.Then the son told me it was because of the room.Now I ask: What is the reason for joy?Said: "I think it is fun to be happy, but I still said: Why is it a room?"Said: A room is considered a room. ("Gongmeng") Through the above debate, we can clearly see the logical rigor of Mozi's thinking method.On the basis of the logic and rigor of Mozi's thinking method, Mohism made further valuable contributions in the later period.