Aristotelian Logic in China—a Case Study of the Chinese Translations of Euclid’s Elements

Chinese logic and Aristotelian logic are very different. The communication between these two language games is generally difficult. But, the attempt to understand the unfamiliar and the novel are commonalities of human beings. To understand different ways of thinking, effort must be made from both sides. The evidence that strongly supports this argument is the discourse between Jesuit and Chinese mathematicians in 17 century China. They applied a common rule, Pointing Out, which make it possible, while doing geometry, for Aristotelian logic to be understood gradually by the Chinese. This dialogue is an excellent example of keeping space open for the sense of wonders. This is the hope for human knowledge.