Title

Utility as the Basis of Action: A Reconstruction of Mohist Utilitarianism

Author

Chen, Houng-hsueh

Genre

Article  

Pages

201-234

Download

PDF

Language

Chinese  

Key words

Mozi (Master Mo/Micius), Mohism, utility, ethics, utilitarianism

Abstract

      Mohism had a deep impact on the fields of politics, philosophy and the military during the Warring States Period. It was as famous as Confucianism at that time. With regards to ethics, Mohist thinkers proposed a discourse on human action guided by utility; they argued that utilitarian behaviors were justified and that justice and utility were inseparable. Unfortunately, Mohism suddenly disappeared after the Qin and Han dynasties, and thus it is now difficult to quantify its influence. In addition, research on Mohism is quite rare, which makes it difficult to attain a complete picture of the Mohist school. This study first analyzes the background in which Mohist utilitarianism developed. Contemporary scholars’ interpretations of the Mozi are consulted to reconstruct a complete picture of Mohism. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of Mohism are critically examined in an effort to provide a wider perspective for researching pre-Qin philosophies.