Top Scholar

Chapter 287 The Starting Point That Changed the World

“Yes,” Su Lu said with certainty.

"For example, when the teacher was lecturing on the duties of the Minister of Rites, he instructed his students to first compile Zheng Kangcheng's commentary and Jia Gongyan's commentary, and then refer to Zhu Xi's 'Comprehensive Explanation of the Book of Rites,' starting with the subtle point that 'rites are the order of heaven and earth,' and using 'all things must originate from one' as the framework,' and then expanding it into three sections: 'distinguishing ranks and authority,' 'clarifying the number of instruments,' and 'harmonizing heaven and man.' Each section was supported by cross-referencing with classical texts and history, and finally concluded with 'rites regulate emotions, and literature carries the Way,' so that the meaning of the classics could be like a net with a main rope, clearly organized and distinct!"

"This is exactly the method for students to write essays!" he said, his eyes widening as he asked Zhu Zhang, "Teacher, did you teach these methods?"

"Yes." Zhu Zhang had no choice but to nod.

"The teacher also taught students the method of writing essays—first, establish the view that 'the meaning of the classics is not easily fully understood, but should be grasped through personal experience and practice,' and emulate the questioning style of the *Baihu Tongyi*, setting up a dialogue between host and guest, respecting the commentaries of earlier scholars while also acknowledging doubts and gaps. In this way, the meaning of the classics is not a rigid text, but a living principle that can engage in dialogue with the past and present!" Su Lu then asked in return:
"These were taught to you by the teacher, weren't they?"

"Yes, I taught them too." Zhu Zhang had no choice but to nod again.

"The hypothetical-deductive method, which involves 'first establishing a hypothesis, then proving its verification, and finally proving its truth or falsehood,' arose from this—for the principles of the world cannot be initiated without conjecture, cannot be exhausted without deduction, and cannot be discerned without empirical evidence." Su Lu spread his hands and said:

"I believe that the essence of the investigation of things and the extension of knowledge taught by the teacher lies precisely in this!"

"It seems... you and your master are indeed talking about the same thing..." Zhu Jie commented after listening, "It's just that Hongzhi has summarized and elevated the content of your lecture."

"Really?" Zhu Zhang was completely dumbfounded: "Am I that powerful?"

"Of course!" Su Lu exclaimed, "Sir, your scholarship is truly exceptional!"

"Shut up, let me sort this out first." Zhu Zhang raised his hand, pondered for a while, and then said with a clear mind, "I almost got fooled by you, kid. I taught you so much, but you only picked these two parts to summarize and refine! This is clearly shooting the arrow first and then drawing the target, treating me like a child."

“But this is truly an idea I only came to after studying under you, Master.” Su Lu said sincerely, “Before, I didn’t even know what the Five Classics were.”

"That's just the master leading you in; the cultivation is up to you. Even if it has something to do with me, it's not that significant." Zhu Zhang wasn't the kind of master who liked to take credit.

"It's incredibly important. Without Master, there would be no way to do this!" Su Lu insisted on giving him the credit, saying, "A tree can grow a thousand feet tall without its roots. Master, please don't refuse."

"No, no..." Zhu Zhang waved his hands repeatedly, he couldn't lose to Zhang Yanqiu.

“Hey, you two shouldn’t be so modest.” Zhu Jie finally understood that Su Lu wanted to give his third brother a chance to make a name for himself, so he advised, “It’s normal for the student to surpass the teacher, but no one can deny that the student comes from the teacher! So Hongzhi, you don’t need to give way to your teacher. Your teacher will be honored because of you.”

“That’s right.” Zhu Zhang nodded. Since his second brother took charge of the household, he had become more and more eloquent.

“The difference is huge.” Su Lu said seriously, “This method is not as simple and easy to verify as phonetic symbols, but it is extremely important. I must promote it and let as many scholars as possible accept this concept of ‘assuming it is so, inferring its effect, and investigating its evidence’!”

He paused for a moment, then said frankly, "I am too young. If I say that I came up with the idea myself, others may praise me, but they won't really take it seriously. But if I say that I used the method that you honed over ten years to develop, and won the minor three honors in one fell swoop, others will rush to imitate me, and in this way, I can subtly influence more people!"

"..." Mr. Gangshan frowned, pondered for a long time, and said, "Since you advocate your method so much, then use it to convince me."

"Alright!" Su Lu nodded emphatically, and after a moment's thought, said in a deep voice:

"The student believes that the biggest problem in scholarship throughout history is drawing conclusions based on only a partial observation—like the blind men and the elephant. One who touches the elephant's ear says it's a fan, and one who touches its leg says it's a pillar. As a result, the understanding is naturally wrong, or at least one-sided."

"That's still the best-case scenario. Even worse are those who draw conclusions based solely on conjecture without any empirical evidence. Some even reverse cause and effect for their own subjective purposes, causing chaos and confusion!" Su Lu said with deep sorrow.

“Yes, all the phenomena you mentioned exist,” Zhu Zhang nodded in agreement.

Studying the Book of Rites is a discipline that emphasizes textual research and reasoning, relying on empirical evidence. As a master of the Book of Rites, he had long since ingrained the principle of "emphasizing facts and evidence" into his very being. Therefore, he was fully aware of the phenomena mentioned by Su Lu, deeply resented them, yet was helpless to change them.

That's why Su Lu used his name to propose the 'hypothetical-deductive method'.

"You think the crux of the problem lies in those people ignoring empirical evidence?" Zhu Zhang's eyes lit up.

“Yes! The root cause is that—no investigation, no right to speak! Too many people dare to draw conclusions without conducting investigations, or at least without conducting comprehensive investigations!” Su Lu said in a deep voice.

"But have you considered that you haven't conducted a comprehensive investigation either?" Zhu Zhang pointed out incisively, "So you're just drawing conclusions recklessly."

Zhu Jie also laughed and said, "This world is so big, no one can conduct a comprehensive investigation, so Hongzhi, you are being too idealistic."

"That's the significance of the 'hypothetical-deductive method'!" Su Lu smiled faintly and calmly replied.
"The matter I'm researching this time is of great importance. If I were to boast that I've found a truth unknown to our predecessors, I would surely be seen as too reckless—therefore, I'd rather not make any definitive statements and just offer a speculative hypothesis!"

"Then everyone can verify this hypothesis. See if the conclusions derived from it are consistent with empirical facts. If they are inconsistent, it means it is wrong. If no one can prove it is wrong, then it is closer to the truth. This line of thinking, from proposing a hypothesis to verifying it with facts, and then to accepting the hypothesis, is the essence of the 'hypothetical-deductive method'!"

He paused, then said with rare excitement, "As long as in the future, someone can deduce principles from it that all of them are consistent with experience, then my nephew's efforts will not have been in vain. After all, by then, when everyone uses this hypothesis, it will be no different from the original truth!" After Su Lu finished speaking, he fell silent and waited quietly for the two elders to give their judgment.

He believed that with their profound knowledge of the Book of Rites, they would surely understand that what he said was an irrefutable truth!

Zhu Jie and Zhu Zhang looked at each other, discussed it in hushed tones, and finally nodded in agreement.

“Well, Hongzhi, not only are you eloquent, but your thinking is also very clear. Your words precisely addressed our doubts,” Zhu Jie exclaimed in admiration.

"Your use of 'hypothesis' instead of 'conclusion' is a great step forward. Throughout history, there have indeed been far too many conclusions and far too few hypotheses."

Zhu Zhang also praised, "Your statement that 'a hypothesis, though not the truth, is practically indistinguishable from the truth when verified' is truly both pragmatic and rigorous, and can be described as brilliant!"

"Sir, you flatter me." Su Lu thought to himself, how could a flute not be both rigorous and practical?
"Truly, the younger generation surpasses the older; whose disciple is so outstanding?" Zhu Jie exclaimed with great admiration.

"Mine!" Zhu Zhang said proudly, "Hongzhi, you've convinced me. This 'hypothetical-deductive method' is indeed an innovation and deserves to be promoted so that everyone can verify it!"

"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Su Lu exclaimed with delight. "So, Master, you agree to accept this method?"

"Sigh, you always seem to be giving your teacher difficult questions." Zhu Zhang said with a doting expression, "Do you think I don't know what you're trying to do? Aren't you just trying to take this opportunity to repay me?"

"I do indeed share this sentiment," Su Lu said without hesitation. "Sir, you possess great talent, enough to benefit the world, and your principle of 'seeking truth from facts' is precisely the most scarce spirit today! For both public and private reasons, I hope that you can become famous throughout the world!"

“Sigh…” Zhu Zhang’s eyes were a little moist. He had dedicated his life to scholarship and had long since given up his desire for fame and fortune, but he was still deeply moved.

He turned his head away for a while before saying in a nasal tone, "What virtue or ability do I, Zhu Gangshan, possess to have a student like Hongzhi? I have no regrets in this life..."

After saying that, he turned back and stared at Su Lu, saying, "Alright, I can learn from Xiao Ti. Your method comes from me, but that's all."

Su Lu was about to persuade him further when Zhu Zhang raised his hand and said, "Just like my second brother said, the student surpasses the teacher, so there's no need to be so clear about who is who between us."

“Yes, Hongzhi, it doesn’t matter who it comes from. As long as you keep winning the top prize, scholars all over the world will naturally flock to your methods,” Zhu Jie also advised.

"I will do my utmost to help you promote this 'hypothetical-deductive method'!" Zhu Zhang raised an eyebrow, exuding confidence. "At least in Sichuan, I, Zhu Gangshan, am quite well-known!"

"Alright," Su Lu had no choice but to agree.

"Alright, now tell me about this method from the beginning, and how it is combined with the eight-legged essay?" Zhu Zhang, one of the inventors of the 'hypothetical-deductive method', humbly asked his disciple.

“Alright, sir, please listen carefully. This is how I learned it from you…” Su Lu then began to explain earnestly.

So the three members of the Zhu family—father, son, uncle, and nephew—listened attentively to Su Lu's lecture all day long, and even had their lunch brought in for them to eat.

This time it was Zhu Zhang's turn to take notes. Su Lu didn't stand on ceremony with him either, speaking just as quickly, making the old man's pen fly across the paper. The old man was sweating profusely, constantly saying, "Slow down, slow down..."

Zhu Zihe chuckled to himself as he watched, thinking to himself, "What goes around comes around; no one escapes justice!"
After Su Lu finished speaking, it was already dark, and the four of them went to the front to have dinner with their families.

During the meal, the three of them kept asking Su Lu about the differences and connections between 'hypothetical-deductive reasoning' and 'abductive reasoning'.

Zhu Zigong, returning from target practice, looked completely bewildered. "What did I miss? Why couldn't I understand a single word?"

“You missed your chance to become a great man,” Zhu Jie said, rolling his eyes at him.

"Oh." Zhu Zigong knew he was in the wrong and dared not utter a word.

~~
After the meal, Su Lu took his leave. Zhu Jie, however, offered, "Hongzhi, let me see you off."

Su Lu knew that he had something to say to him, so he nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Master."

After walking a long distance, Zhu Jiefang said softly, "Do you know why Huang Bingxian doesn't approve of your relationship?"

P.S.: Please don't call me a "chapter-killer" anymore. If I don't leave a hook, no one will read it tomorrow, boohoo...

If you really want to curse, then curse. Just keep casting your monthly votes while you're doing it...

(End of this chapter)