《吕氏春秋》中的“类”观念及其说理

On theConceptof“lei”inthe Lü’sSpringandAutumn and ItsApplicationinReasoning

《吕氏春秋》是一部“杂家”著作,具有兼收并蓄的特点,其中“类”概念也有多重意义。以往的研究主要是从逻辑学的进路展开,把《吕氏春秋》中的“类”都解释为对类比推理的原则或方法的阐发。这种解释具有一定合理性,却未揭示出《吕氏春秋》“类”观念的特定内涵与作用。因为,一方面《吕氏春秋》“邻类”“类固不必”两个命题中的“类”有特定所指:“邻类”指行动方法与结果之间必然的因果联系,“类固不必”则指事物的价值应当依据实际应用效果而非说理规则来评判;另一方面,《吕氏春秋》论说“类”的观念是为了阐发政治伦理主张,对统治者修身、治国等各方面的行动进行劝说。而在说理中必须考虑到当时的社会局势、被劝说者的文化心理与个人偏好等因素,才能发挥说理的效力。因此,不能简单地套用类比推理来解释《吕氏春秋》中的“类”观念,而应当将对“类”的界说与基于“类”的说理相结合,还原到其思想背景与说理情境中去加以理解。

“Lü’s Spring and Autumn” is a “miscellaneous” work, which has the characteristics of eclectic. Therefore, the concept of “lei”(class) has multiple meanings in this book.The previous research was mainly carried out from the approach of logic, so the “lei”was interpreted as the elucidation of the principles or methods of analogical reasoning.This explanation is reasonable to a certain extent, but it does not reveal the specific connotation and function of the concept of “lei” in the book of Lü’s. This is because, on the one hand, the two propositions of “linlei” and “leigububi” have specific meanings: the first one refers to the inevitable causal connection between the action method and the result, and the second one means that the value of things should be judged according to the actual application effect rather than the rules of reasoning;on the other hand, Lü’s Spring and Autumn discusses the concept of “class” is for elucidating the political and ethical propositions, and for admonishing the actions of rulers in various aspects such as self-cultivation and state governance. Because of this, social situation at that time and cultural psychology and personal preference of the persuaded must be taken into account in order to exert the effect of reasoning. Therefore, we cannot simply apply analogical reasoning to explain the concept of “lei” in the Lü’s Spring and Autumn, but should combine the definition of “lei” with the reasoning based on it and restore them to their ideological background and reasoning situation then we can get a full understanding.