This is the cornerstone of 's philosophy. Confucius taught "graded love"—you love your family most, then your neighbors, then your ruler, and finally strangers. Mozi rejected this. He argued that partiality (bie) is the root of all evil.
However, in the 20th century, exploded back into relevance. Chinese intellectuals looking for indigenous alternatives to Western thought found him irresistible.
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insisted that humans have the agency to change their circumstances. Wealth, population, and order are the results of human effort and wise policy, not celestial fate. This perspective is shockingly modern, aligning closely with behavioral psychology and growth mindset theories.
Mohism | Chinese philosophy | Hundred Schools of Thought | Universal love | Utilitarianism He argued that partiality (bie) is the root of all evil
Unlike Confucius, who was a noble-born scholar-official, (c. 470 – c. 391 BCE) likely came from the artisan class. Historical records suggest he was a skilled carpenter and mechanic. This background is crucial because Mozi did not view philosophy as a purely abstract exercise. For him, ideas were tools—they either worked in the real world or they were worthless.
Mozi also emphasized the importance of li , or ritual propriety, which he believed was essential for maintaining social order and promoting moral behavior. However, unlike the Confucians, who emphasized the importance of traditional rituals and social norms, Mozi believed that li should be based on practical and rational principles, rather than blind adherence to tradition. series (the player who builds a model of the universe)
As he grew older, Mozi became increasingly concerned about the social and moral decay that he saw around him. He was deeply troubled by the violence, corruption, and inequality that characterized the Warring States period, and he began to seek answers to the problems that plagued Chinese society.
After Mozi’s death, the school split into three factions, each claiming his original texts. The school declined after the Qin unification, which favored Legalism, and the subsequent Han dynasty’s adoption of Confucianism as state orthodoxy. By the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), Mohism was almost extinct.
As a defensive engineer, saw the horror of the Warring States period firsthand. He made a logical distinction: defensive warfare (to protect your home) is permissible; offensive warfare (to seize land or treasure) is murder.