Listen to this articleqiánshí 前识
Foreknowledge / Prophecy
提前获得的认识。“前识”一词出于《老子》，指在众人认识之前即已获得的优越于常识的认知。拥有“前识”之人往往自认为有先见之明。但在道家看来，“前识”只是个人的某种偏狭认识，并不能揭示事物真实的自然状态。如果统治者依据这样的“前识”来治理国家，则会造成对百姓的伤害，导致国家的混乱。
This term refers to the knowledge obtained about something before it happens or exists. It first appears in Laozi, referring to the knowledge one has obtained about something before others get to know about it. Those who believe that they can have such foreknowledge tend to consider themselves as prophets. However, the Daoist School believes that such foreknowledge is only personal understanding about things, and can hardly reveal the true nature of things they allegedly know about. If a sovereign ruler governs according to such foreknowledge, his rule is likely to be detrimental to the well-being of its people and leads to an upheaval.
引例 Citations：
◎前识者，道之华，而愚之始。（《老子·三十八章》）
（所谓有先见的人，使道流于浮华，实际是愚昧的端始。）
Those are said to have foresight are pretentious versions of the Dao and this socalled foreknowledge is the birth of ignorance. (Laozi)
◎先物行先理动之谓前识。前识者，无缘而忘［妄］意度也。（《韩非子·解老》）（在事物、事理显现之前就有所行动，就称为“前识”。“前识”是没有依据的妄自猜度。）
To claim to know about something before one comes into contact with it or even takes action just according to what is thought as his or her foreknowledge or prophecy is as much as making a groundless guess. (Hanfeizi)
