言道、言事与援类引譬

Yan dao、yan shi and yuan lei、yin pi

中国古代思想家们在宣传他们的道德理想时,往往采取譬喻或援引相类似的事物加以证明。这就是所谓通过"言事"而"言道"。孔子、墨子、惠施、公孙龙等莫不如此。如果我们较好地掌握了"言事"与"言道"这二者的关系以及"引譬"、"援类"的思维方式,对于正确理解中国古代思想家们的思想具有重要意义。

When Chinese ancient ideologists propagandized their ethic s ideals, they often used metaphor or yuan lei(to invoke a precedent) to prove their ideas. The method is called yan dao by yan shi(provide several simple, c ommon and unde rstandable examples to prove ones ideas). This method was used by many ideologis ts, such as Confucius MO Zi, HUI Shi and GONG SUN Long etc. It would be signi fic ant helpful to understand the ideas of Chinese ancient ideologists exactly, if w e could understand the relationship between yan shi and yan da o, and master the thinking modes of yin pi (to cite proofs from other facts, or eviden ce) and yuan lei(to invoke a precedent).