Mozi and Mohism
A Philosophy of Love, Pacifism, and Pragmatism.
Why is there war?
War is often justified through practical demands.
A lack of resources, a release of popular sentiment, or a prevention of greater evils are common examples.
More often than not, however, the outcome of war seems simply unjustified by the deaths and destruction that come from it. For instance, the U.S.-led strikes on Iraqi and Syrian territories in response to Al-Qaeda attacks on home soil are certainly justified by popular sentiment during the early phases of the operation. Still, the later occupations, followed by mass population displacements, have come under increasing criticism as the years go by.
Less extreme examples include political divisions in most two-party states and the rise of extreme left and right globally. Like war, these divisions and conflicts have been described as a necessity, a practical and rational outcome to resolve tensions. Is this the case, and are there no alternatives?
Coming from a historically turbulent period, similar to and if not worse, than that of our own, Mozi (墨子) is an ancient Chinese philosopher from the late 5th Century B.C. to early 4th century B.C, in the Spring and Autumn Period of China.
China then is composed of a series of fragmented kingdoms and principalities, vying for the control of more land and population. Frequent droughts, floods from the Yellow River, and the Yangtze Basins forced drafts of peasants, and a growing aristocratic class with increasingly luxurious artistic expressions effectively destroyed the livelihoods of the ordinary people.
Mozi, arguably, faced a similar problem: Are such wars and expenditures the practical method for prosperity?
Mozi would argue that war, or conflicts, is the unpragmatic and impractical solution. Mozi describes conflict as used by parties to achieve selfish aims that benefit a select group of individuals, whilst disregarding the well-being of most. In agreement with modern pacifism, Mozi views conflict, large or small, as inherently unjustifiable from a logical standpoint.
What, then, is the solution to conflict?
Mozi believes, perhaps idealistically, that it is ‘universal love’ (Jian Ai / 兼爱). Love, in contradiction to its emotional tendencies, is suggested by Mozi as a pragmatic solution to situations that would give rise to conflict.
This does not mean that Mozi does not recognize the human tendency for selfishness: the first statement of Chapter 16, Impartial Concern, argues that people tend with greater regard for their health, possessions, and welfare, than that of family, friends, and strangers. Mozi concludes that, as such, there is typically no moral hurdle for people to act for their own interests, leading to conflict and violence.
Mozi believes that ‘universal love’, or ‘impartial concern’, can indeed be achieved despite our tendency for selfishness. Mozi and his students preach this through material sufficiency and moral guidance. The core tenets of Mohism reject exuberance and excessive pleasure, whilst promoting thriftiness and practicality. This is a fundamental rejection of materialism and short-term pleasures, followed by guidance from an external moral compass manifested as a personification of Heaven (天/Tian).
“When a benevolent individual acts, he must act for the prosperity of all under Heaven and rid of all evil under Heaven. And now, what is the greatest evil? It is the stronger kingdom attacking the weak, the larger families disturbing the small. It is when the strong rob the weak, when the more desecrates the few, when the mischievous conspires against the foolish, when the wealthy look down upon the poor. Such are the greatest evils under Heaven.” — Mozi (n.d.)
Mozi argued that we should practice ‘universal love’ for three reasons:
- To reciprocate the love of the heavens for humanity
- For the love of each other
- For the love of oneself
Mozi precisely appeals to the historical and social context of the populace — most people believed in deities and the supernatural. Mozi also argues that out of the exact self-interest that drives conflict, we must all practice ‘universal love’ to achieve our ultimate goal as individuals: the goal of permanent prosperity. Indeed, Mozi recognizes that it is impossible to achieve love between individuals of different aims, as such, multiple chapters have been dedicated to preaching a “universal goal”, which is prosperity.
I think that it is formidable that Mozi comes to believe, and acts, to reverse this human tendency, despite this knowledge he spells out. Born into a low socioeconomic background, Mozi cares for the people as he does for himself. I see this in stark contrast to Confucius, who has an aristocratic background and appeals to a revival of ancient rites and morality with a strong distinction for the appropriate social role of each social class.
Mozi goes beyond his books to fight for his views too: he is famously credited with dissuading the King of Chu from invading the smaller Song kingdom, using his anti-siege inventions.
“The wise king of old loves the people, so that the people, too, are loyal to him. At the same time, the king provides for the people, so that the people do not abandon him. Such is why the wise kings of old can rule all beneath the Heaven.”- (Mozi, n.d.).
Mozi’s philosophy, in my view, is also one of a tragedy.
Because of his emphasis on material simplicity, the ideology was not favoured by Qin or Han emperors after the Spring and Autumn periods, leading to decline. Ruling powers required material complexity to motivate the aristocratic class, and Mohism’s emphasis on the people did not appeal to a population that was largely illiterate at the time.
So, why does Mozi matter to us?
The rediscovery of Mohism is a rediscovery of love, love from a time that suffers much worse than that of us now. Idealistic, and benevolent, but unlike religions that offer a similar role of moral guidance and love, Mozi and Mohism do not impose their ideals. It describes what you should do, and tries to convince you, through its logic, practical examples, and appealing to, rather than enforcing its ideas through, our ideas of love and benevolence.
I think Mozi has told us a truly beautiful ideal to guide our lives by.
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