Chapter 38: What! How could they do such a thing to an 80-year-old elder? (2 / 2)
This question was particularly tricky.
The members of the Ancient Text School either fidgeted with the edges or indents of the desk, or furrowed their brows, unable to retaliate for a long time.
Xu Yanmiao had a sudden idea and nudged the Ministry of War’s assistant: “Can I somehow prove that Xunzi didn’t quote from the Ancient Texts of the Book of Documents because he had never heard of it?”
The Ministry of War assistant thought for a moment: “Well, I can prove that the Ancient Texts of the Book of Documents was well-known, and if Xunzi hadn’t heard of it, then he must have been ignorant. From there, I’ll argue that your theory is built on the idea that Xunzi was ignorant.”
Xu Yanmiao widened his eyes.
The assistant became more enthusiastic: “If you’re pinned with that view, then you won’t be able to use any of Xunzi’s ideas in future debates. He’s ignorant, so any arguments he made are certainly open to refutation. Although I haven’t found any yet, I don’t need to search anymore because you just admitted that Xunzi was ignorant!”
—Using their own weapon against them.
Xu Yanmiao, the debate novice, suddenly realized.
[So this is just being a contrarian!]