Case History: Western Classics and Logic

Author: Zhang Chengmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: "Case Studies: Western Classics and Logic"
The mundane and sluggishness of life are troubles that ordinary mortals find hard to escape. The wise seek to transcend the ordinary, and their interests vary—just as many turn to philosophy in search of spiritual treasures, so too do many become fascinated with detective work, even making it their profession, not for the sake of wealth, but simply to find answers to their own and others' doubts. This fascination leads us to enjoy reasoning, and then to focus on logic. Interest in the mind comes naturally, but logic may feel unsatisfying or even unpleasant. This is just as the American philosopher Will Durant described: "Logic is the study of thought and its ideal methods: observation and introspection, deduction and induction, hypothesis and experiment, analysis and synthesis—all of these are forms that logic attempts to understand and guide human activity." For most people, this discipline is dull and tedious. Yet major events in the history of thought are none other than improvements made by people in their thinking and research methods—(Will Durant, The Story of Philosophy, translated by Wei An et al., Cultural and Art Press, 1991 edition, p. 5). I hope Case Studies will change your impression and bring you intellectual pleasure and the joy of logic. But first, one must cross the turbulent seas of reasons and theories, and then allow other thinkers to feel a solid sense of touching the shore—this is the work of casuistry. If this solid foundation can help you combine your fascination with exploration and wisdom, enabling you to quickly grasp the laws of the mind, that would be wonderful.