| “Lei” is the core concept of Mohist logic thought,and it is the basis of “tui lei”.The study of “lei” is necessary to understand Mohist logic thought.In the study of “lei”thought,the meaning of “lei” is the most important.However,“what is the meaning of‘lei’”,has not yet been determined.This paper conducts a comprehensive and systematic investigation of the meaning of “lei”.According to the use of the word “lei” and the application of “lei” in “tui lei”,I analyze the meaning of “lei” in Mohist Canons,structure the interpretation of “tui lei”in the process,and reinterpret the nature of the “tui lei” on the basis of similarity.Finally,from the perspective of “lei”,based on “similarity”,I discuss three characteristics of Mohist logic thought.This paper holds that the core meaning of “lei” is “similarity”.As far as the use of the word “lei”,it is used as two ways: noun and verb.In the case of the noun use of the word “lei”,it means “zhong lei” or “lei bie”,“something being of a kind” or “something similar”,“the relationship of being of a kind” or “the relationship of similarity”.Among them,“zhong lei” or “lei bie” is the basic meaning of “lei”,and other meanings are derived from it.“Similarity” and “being of a kind” are interchangeable.After taking into account the characteristics of Mohist logic thought and ancient language,the word“similar” is used.The meaning of “lei” in “tui lei” can be summed up in deductive “tui lei” and non-deductive “tui lei”.It is often expressed as “li” “fa” “standard” and structural similarity in deductive “tui lei”.And it is usually expressed as the similarity of relationship and the similarity of key nature in non-deductive “tui lei”.The former most commonly contains the similarity of causality,the similarity of condition-result relationship,etc.The similarity of a relationship is not abstract,but concrete.The basis of the “tui lei” is “lei” and “lei” is “similarity”,so the “tui lei” is a reasoning based on similarity.The “tui lei” can be interpreted uniformly from the perspective of similarity.To sum up,from the perspective of “lei”,Mohist logic thought shows three characteristics: firstly,the similarity is cornerstone;secondly,the categorization is the basic characteristic;thirdly,the certainty of thought is the basic pursuit. |
