Chapter 60 [Case Analysis] <Dengtuzi Lustful>

During the Warring States Period, there was a literati named Song Yu in the state of Chu. He wrote an article "Ode to Dengtuzi's Lustfulness". In addition to arguing that he was not lecherous, he also told Dengtuzi, a doctor of the state of Chu who said he was lecherous in front of the king of Chu. To beat him back, he said that Deng Tuzi was a womanizer.The reason is: Deng Tuzi's wife was very ugly, with disheveled hair, bad ears, a bald and short mouth with a few sparse teeth exposed, scabies on her body, and hemorrhoids in her buttocks.But Deng Tuzi actually liked her, and had five children with her.Even such an ugly woman is loved, isn't it even more so for a prettier woman?This fully shows that Dengtuzi is a womanizer.

Because Song Yu is a well-known poet and fu writer, and this article is very talented, not only has he gained the trust of the king of Chu, but later people quoted Song Yu's words without analysis, making him Dengtuzi has become a synonym for female sex and misbehavior, and it has been passed down through the ages. However, as long as we do a little logical analysis, it is not difficult to see the sophistical nature of this argument.According to the requirement of the law of sufficient reason, when demonstrating a point of view, the reasons held must not only be true, but also the point of view to be demonstrated can be deduced from the reasons.Dengtuzi has a good relationship with his ugly wife. Although this premise is true, the conclusion that Dengtuzi is lustful cannot be deduced from it.

In response to Song Yu's sophistry, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: Song Yu's attack on Dengtuzi is completely a sophistry that reverses the truth.He said very wittily and humorously: In essence, Dengtuzi should be admitted as a good person.Marrying such an ugly woman can still love and live in harmony with her.According to our opinion, Dengtuzi is a model husband who loves exclusively and abides by the marriage law. How can we say that he is a womanizer? (Quoted from "Mao Zedong Reading History", Guangming Daily, October 22, 1991) Mao Zedong believed that Deng Tuzi had suffered innocent injustice, and he should be rehabilitated: he regarded Song Yu as a proud argument and a typical example of sophistry in negative teaching materials. ("Mao Zedong Reading History", October 22, 1991 "Guangming Daily")

In addition, we believe that in order to deduce Dengtuzi's lustful conclusion from Song Yu's words, it is necessary to add such a major premise: Anyone who does not dislike his wife's ugly appearance is a lustful person.But this major premise is false and cannot be established, which violates the requirement of the law of sufficient reason that the reasons must be true, and makes the mistake of false reasons.