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Q: What is Chinese Logic?
if any.
Logic 101 in China: Never publicly admitting you made a mistake or admitting that you are wrong.
Logic 102 in China: Save FACE at all costs by referring to Logic 101
Logic 103 in China: The only reason our modern world exists is ONLY thanks to the Four Great Inventions. That's why rest of world activery trying to bring great China down and jearous of great Chinese interrigence.
China? Logic? sbbod. Thx, u just froze-up my Mac.... 
Logic 105: We should take pictures of the foreigner tourists, not the other way around.
Logic 106: Allow our 1-year-old child to Sh*t on the street, because we can save money on diapers.
Logic 107: "There's a foreigner. Oh good, I get to practice my English."
Logic 108: Impulsively shout to announce the recognition of a "laowai" on the street.
Logic 109: Strategically evade answering any question definitively.
Logic 110: Germs? What are germs? Coughing on you doesn't make you sick, the weather does.
Now who's going to make T-shirts of this stuff?
Mr_spoon:
Logic 111: Unproven Chinese scientific facts, including those regarding medicine, are always right, westerners are just mad at China's greatness, so, as world-wide conspiracy, make up fancy things such as "scientific research".
Logic denotes thinking about options. Most Chinese do not think, they simply either act on a primal instinct or defensive avoidance level. Thought beyond what immediately affects them does not seem possible most times.
If living in China, Mr. Spock would have committed suicide, having been the logical thing to do.
It's a good question and I want to try and answer it without resorting to making tired insults. I think at best I can say Chinese logic is not fanciful, for example a belief in ghosts or extraterrestrials is less common here because the proof is not at your feet and to entertain such things would seem to most Chinese a waste of time; and at worst I can say it can be coldly practical, as in the case of couples favouring a boy for their increased wage earning potential, to the point of aborting a female feotus or in some cases even killing the child after the actual birth.
I remember years ago teaching the song 'Row. row, row your boat' to a class of young children and at the end of the song the Chinese teacher who shared the class with me turned to me with genuine confusion in her eyes and said "But life ISN'T just a dream."
To me THAT is Chinese logic.
In fact I think Mr Spock, the character in Star Trek, represented East Asian thinking to Kirk's western philosophy, in what I believe was Gene Roddenberry's comment on the two, as his 'truly' seems to me to be 'Chinese logic'.
Xpat.John:
But Spock's famous comment, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one", do you think that could be applied to Chinese mentality? I don't. If anything, I see Chinese mentality to be more like a passive version of Kirk. "The rules are only there for those who go nowhere."
mArtiAn:
Geez, by the look of those quotes I think the 'two' of them could be Chinese, they sound like a pair of Goddammm commies!.
giadrosich:
Wait! You mean...Spock could have been "Our Glorious Leader?" 
mArtiAn:
Yeh, why the hell not? And if anyone disagreed with him he could do that hand thingy on their neck.
giadrosich:
I called that the "Spock Squeeze!" See, he could do the Vulcan Mind Meld and tell what everyone was thinking. A great way to ferret out Rail-Road Capitalists!! 
i think Chinese people define 'Think' logic in one of these definitions...............1.Logic must look after itself. In a certain sense, we can't make mistake in logic...................2.Logic takes care of itself, all we have to do is to look and see how it does it.........................3.Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked..............you pick one of these..........LOL
Survival at all costs and a me and my family first mentality...after this everyone else is on their own for the most part...strangers are not considered at all.
I think America (or even Canada) were not much different 80 years ago.
andy74rc:
You might have a better chance of surviving if you understand the very basic action-reaction logic, at least.
If you all want to go the philisophical non-humorous route, then you guys can't be quoting Spock. He was the biggest flaw to his own logic. There is quite a difference between something that is logical and something that is reasonable and something that is moral. However, most countries adopt principles that are simultaneously ALL 3 of those things. There are plenty of contradictions in Chinese logic. For example, family first mentality but everyone cheats on their spouse. The common thread that I see throughout all of China is simply selfishness. Selfishness manifests itself in everyday life, greedy government behavior, a severe lack of compassion for others, etc. Do you know what China is? China is a prime example of a group of people with NO direction. By direction, I mean an underlining set of moral principles. I hate to push religion, but religious beliefs have provided the foundation and direction in all cultures. The void of religious beliefs in China has left these people with very little hope, very little inspiration, very little of looking beyond their next scam, their next quick fix, their next meal. There is nothing beyond their little world of cheating each other. I severely disagree with the above comment about "the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few." Are you serious? Where in China does this rule apply? At the government level? Maybe at the family level then? It may sound good, but it is SOOOO farse in China. Actually, direction and organization is something China does not have on purpose. How does any military commander defeat his enemies? He creates chaos! Tyranny stays in power because they effectively eliminate any type of organization. Leave them without cause, without direction, without a leader. Tyranny survives at the top level, because anarchy thrives at the local level. China reminds me of one big family of children whose parents left away on vacation, with nothing but the television to be their guide, their law, their distraction. The kids are perfectly fine to create rampage by themselves, but if they are smart enough to unite to organize and fight their parents for neglecting them, then their parents lose. This is China. Just a bunch of unsupervised, unruly children.
Createach:
i started reading this answer and then suddenly i slept.....i wonder why?!!!!!!................LOL
mArtiAn:
Hmmmm, i've been accused of being a defender of all things Chinese and i'm beginning to wonder whether that might not be true. What I do know is that I am not honestly the most well informed person on matters of politics, social law and the like, but in the interest of maintaining a balance on this forum, which naturally leans towards a western perspective, I would say that firstly your comment about everyone cheating on their wives is true of cultures and countries the world over. God knows my old man did so more than once.
Secondly the suggestion that the Chinese are simply a selfish people whose soul purpose is to cheat and swindle wherever possible is one I find a little offensive. Such behaviour is, I believe, one of economic necessity and is driven by competition in a capitalist world. We in the west did not reach such heights of economic comfort by playing nicely.
As for the Chinese having no religious guidance, that is absurd; Buddhist and Taoist philosophy is the marrow and the very backbone of Chinese culture and I don't see any failing in this. On the contrary, I find these to be far preferable to the fanatic and ready for battle alternatives we have in the west.
The quote on 'the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few' was taken out of context, as XpatJohn was using it to argue that my Spock anology was incorrect, and 'not' as a suggestion as to how the Chinese actually live their lives.
Your bit about the government creating chaos came a good few years too late I think, but would have been poignant during the cultural revolution when Mao made a practice of it. I don't see it relating so greatly to the China of today.
Is there really anarchy at a local level in China? This I also find hard to agree with as i've lived here for 8 years and find the place to be running relatively peacefully for the most part.
And as for the idea that the Chinese are simply children who've been left home with the tv on, content to immerse themselves in material distractions while the government continues to play them like fools, that seems to be an effective tool of many governments the world over and is certainly not exclusive to this one.
Like I said, i'm just trying to give an even perspective on things. I'm neither a China government sympathizer nor that of any other I know of. In fact I believe them 'all' to be inherently corrupt.
Chaching:
martian, cheating on spouses in China has been marked at 70-90% depending on who is answering the question. Have you not seen the cars parked outside the girls dormitory at universities? I'm sure the girls can afford those nice mercedes and BMWs. Dude, open your eyes and wake up. If you think that anarchy doesn't prevail at the local level, then you haven't been at a train station or bus station. I would call this anarchy. Selfishness, read the bit about the 2 year old girl who was run over by a car and numerous people walked passed. Ask any local, and this is typical behavior. Tell me something, what happened to Tibet? What about the "fa lu gong" guys? What about Taoism? What about Buddhism? Where does it manifest itself in China today? This will probably be edited. I wish it should not, I have diplomatic immunity and it is written in English. You think I am late about calling out government practices that happened years ago? I wasn't even born back then, yet I feel it NOW! Now, man now! I'm not reciting a history book, I live here today! Today, as I walk down the street, I work here in a Chinese office, not a school. Mao practices are their religion. Is it not? I can go downstairs to my building and buy a little red book with Mao's fat face on it. Mole and all. You are not a chinese kiss-ass. You have been blessed in China, you've been lucky and your character is more patient than mine. I envy that. I'm actually jealous of you because my wife tells me I am too negative. Thank you for presenting the other side. Are you in Sichuan? Perhaps we can network. I do have some opportunities. If not just another lonely expat looking for friends.
:
Great answer, I enjoyed reading it. There are exceptions, but your answer it's good point about what happens in China. And yes i totally agree with you about the religious principles as the fundamental way to guide and give directions in anyone's life, personal and social life. It's the most effective way that makes people think and wonder about everything and helps them to draw the line between what is wrong and what is good. Thus, I know people in China with strong Christian values and I can see how they make a difference in their daily life compared to any other people who lack rock solid moral values. Thanks for your answer.
Logic is little tweeting bird chirping in meadow. Logic is wreath of pretty flowers that smell bad.
--Spock
Everyone has their own logic. Your logic probably differ from mine. What is American logic, German logic, Japanese logic etc. Yes, Chinese logic appears often absent, but to our non-Chinese eyes.
Createach:
I saw a one nation logic mentioned here............BUT.............is their a logic with multiple nationalities or might be mixed blood?!!!!!!........just checking with you here.............LOL
Chaching:
Good point Createach, Logic does sometimes change. It is not always mathmatical. sometimes it is utilitarian, sometimes it is consistent with Kant, or Descartes. Thereau, Nietzche, Kazanzakis, Kafka. Even Jonathan Swift. What is logic to a person who suffers from multiple personality disorder? I love, I adore Edgar Alan Poe's logic. That bastard can justify killing your wife! Just saying, not really thinking about killing my wife.
Good question! Chinese logic? China is a place where common sense isn't very common;rules can be changed anytime by whoever holds the power~
If there are 29 sensible ways to do things and 1 idiotic way, the Chinese will invariably choose the 1 idiotic option. If you then show them an infinitely more sensible and efficient way of doing something, they will say "You're so clever for thinking of that" then revert to doing it the 1 idiotic way again at the first opportunity.
In the history of logic, logic in China plays a particularly interesting role due to its repression and abandonment compared to the strong ancient adoption and continued development of the study of logic in Europe, India, and the Islamic world.
