A Research Into Zhangshenfu's Logical Thoughts

As a famous logician in modern China,Zhang Shenfu not only made great efforts to introduce and publicize the western logic theory,but also put forward quite a few new ideas of logic.This paper introduces the origin,problems and difficulties of the topic selection of Zhang Shenfu's logical thought.There are not many research achievements related to his thoughts on logic in the academic circle due to historical reasons,although Zhang Shenfu wrote many academic works.In terms of logic view,Zhang Shenfu not only analyzed the original meaning of ‘logic',but also explained the characteristics and main contents of the object in study of logic,and discussed the relationship between logic and dialectics.In the terms of the concept of name and reality,Zhang Shenfu systematically elaborated several basic categories,such as method and tool,paradox and definition.In his point of view,as a concept derived from Russell,it was essentially a philosophy of life.He put forward the proposition that fame was the object of reality and stressed that it was not only necessary to be perfectly justifiable,but also to clearly grasp reality.In his opinion,methods and tools must be combined to get things done effectively,without confusing one with the other.Zhang Shenfu named paradox ‘Gui Lun'(theory of paradox)and he believed that all mistakes were originated from words ‘everything and all',etc.and one needed to jump out of the circle,in which everything was involved and entangled with each other.However,in terms of common sense,paradox did not contradict itself in practical application.He believed that definition was an integral part of logical system and an important content of logical philosophy.Besides,Zhang Shenfu also propagandized,studied and evaluated Russell's logical thought.He studied Russell from philosophy,logic,science and other fields,and paid much attention to and advocated Russel's logical atomism and logical analysis methods.Zhang Shenfu started admiring Russel from May Fourth Period and he enjoyed the reputation as ‘Russel Expert in China'.Zhang Shenfu did make some achievements in the theoretical study of logic.Nevertheless,his relevant arguments were fragmentary,‘short and pithy',scattered and unsystematic.Besides,his thoughts in early period were not consistent with his thoughts in late period.