School of thought

Mohism

School

Explore in the interactive map

Classification

Period
c. 430-221 BCE
Regions
East Asia (origin)
Domains
Ethics, Logic, Political Philosophy

Overview

Mohism, founded by Mozi, taught the radical doctrine of universal, impartial love (jian'ai) — caring for all people equally, not favoring family or state. Mozi developed proto-utilitarian arguments that policies should be judged by whether they benefit the people, and his followers became renowned for defensive military engineering and logical argumentation.

Key ideas

  • Universal Love: Mozi argued that partiality — loving one's own family or state more than others — is the root of conflict. Impartial concern for all would create a harmonious world.
  • Consequentialism: Actions and policies should be judged by their outcomes: do they benefit the people, enrich the state, and increase the population? This is a remarkably early form of utilitarian reasoning.
  • Anti-Fatalism: Mozi rejected belief in fate (ming), arguing that human effort determines outcomes and that fatalism leads to moral laziness.

Key figures

Mozi (Mo Di)

Positions held

  • Consequentialism

    Mohist consequentialism judges acts and policies by their benefit to the world, counted as wealth, population, and order, rather than by individual happiness.

    Question scope: The Basis of Right Action

Reacts to

  • Confucianism

    Mozi trained in the Confucian tradition but rejected its partiality, elaborate ritual, and fatalism in favor of impartial care and consequentialist reasoning.

References

  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Mohism
  • A. C. Graham, Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China (Open Court, 1989), locating the formation of Mozi's disciplined community of followers at around 430 BCE, the start date used here
  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Mohism, introduction and §1 — Formation: Mozi's teaching and organized following in Warring States China around 430 BCE.
  • Mozi, ch. 16 'Impartial Caring' and ch. 35 'Against Fatalism' (benefit to the world as the standard for judging doctrines and policies)
  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Mohism, §7 'Ethical Theory' (the consequentialist standard of benefit to the world)
  • A. C. Graham, Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China (Open Court, 1989)
  • The Mozi: A Complete Translation — Ian Johnston (trans.)