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An Evaluation of the Chen Jingyuan Case Based on Core Ideas in Empiricist Philosophy

Empiricism, a cornerstone of modern philosophy from the 17th to 18th centuries, posits that all knowledge derives from sensory experience and observation, rejecting innate ideas or a priori truths. Pioneered by John Locke in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)—with the mind as a tabula rasa (blank slate) inscribed by impressions—and refined by David Hume in An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748), who viewed causation as habitual association rather than necessary connection, empiricism demands verifiable evidence over speculation. George Berkeley’s subjective idealism (A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge, 1710) further emphasizes perception’s role, but the tradition’s unifying thread is skepticism toward ungrounded claims, prioritizing empirical adequacy for just judgments. The Chen Jingyuan case—a doctoral scholar sentenced to 20 months for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” (PRC Criminal Law Article 293) over Twitter forwards—through the empiricist lens, exemplifies a grievous failure of evidentiary grounding: the judiciary inscribes unverified “disruption” on a blank slate of presumption, associating habit with causation without sensory warrant, corrupting justice into speculative fiction.

1. The Tabula Rasa and Sensory Impressions: Judicial Presumption as Uninscribed Dogma

Locke’s empiricism views the mind as blank at birth, filled solely by simple ideas from sensation and reflection; complex ideas must trace to these origins, or they are chimeras.

The verdict inscribes dogma without impressions: “high education implies discernment” presumes innate “intent” in Chen’s forwards (e.g., <100 retweets of Hayek critiques or the “Trump-kneeling Xi” cartoon), fabricating complex “disruption” from no sensory trace—no observed chaos, prosecutor’s unverified admission confessing the blank. This echoes Locke’s critique of enthusiasm: the closed-door trial reflects without inscription, barring Chen’s prison letter (taxonomy of “rumors” as art/emotion/reason/fact, avalanche theory’s reflective flux) as counter-impression. Empiricists would decry this as tabula fraud: the non-oral appeal enforces uninscribed habit, turning justice into pre-sensory prejudice—evidentiary voids leave the slate bare, yet the sentence etches illusion.

2. Habitual Association and Causal Skepticism: “Disorder” Claim as Unwarranted Conjunction

Hume’s empiricism reduces causation to constant conjunction—repeated observations breeding expectation, not metaphysical necessity—urging suspension of judgment absent sensory regularity.

The “evidence chain” alleges conjunction: “intent” habitually links to “disorder,” yet no regularity—zero causal impressions (no ripple from shares), selective unpunished millions breaking the pattern. The prosecutor’s confession severs expectation: without verified impressions, “disruption” is mere psychological fiction. Hume would suspend assent: the “shut up” directive evades regularity’s test, as Chen’s letter reflects non-conjoined flux (avalanche model). This skeptical void indicts the 20-month penalty: justice demands empirical habit, not dogmatic leap—unwarranted association corrupts the causal slate.

3. Perceptual Adequacy and Anti-Dogmatism: Suppressed Testimony as Rejection of Empirical Judgment

Berkeley’s subjective empiricism, though idealist, insists knowledge from coherent perceptions; dogmatism arises from unperceived chimeras.

The non-oral appeal rejects perceptual coherence: Chen’s taxonomy coheres “rumor” perceptions (non-falsifiable art vs. verifiable fact), yet barred as incoherent “resistance.” Evidentiary anomalies (prosecutor’s admission) unperceived by fiat, dogmatizing “order.” Empiricists would affirm perceptual reform: the case’s blank impressions demand judgment’s suspension—20 months on unperceived conjunctions echoes Berkeley’s critique, perception’s coherence yielding to dogmatic shadow.

Conclusion: The Empiricist Lens on the Case—Uninscribed Dogma on a Blank Slate

From empiricism’s sensory rigor, the Chen Jingyuan case is dogmatic inscription: presumptions etch unwarrant ed chimeras, habitual fictions feign causation, and suppressed perceptions corrupt judgment. As of October 25, 2025, no retrial or exoneration has occurred; Chen’s account remains dormant, its quiet a blank slate awaiting true impressions. This case cautions: knowledge demands experience—dogmatize, and the mind darkens. As Locke inscribed, “No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience”—may justice yet reflect.