History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China HPC 24. Measuring Up: Mohist philosophy
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Feb 23, 2025 A lively tour of Mozi and the Moists, who evaluate social practices by the standard of benefit. Exploration of their measuring analogy, practical argumentative methods, and anti-elitist roots. Discussion of tests for doctrines, rejection of costly rituals, and how heaven functions as a moral judge. Focus on ordinary people as verifiers and benefit as the central political and ethical yardstick.
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Standards As Moral Instruments
- The Mozi proposes using standards (fa) to guide moral and practical life like tools guide craftsmen.
- This approach treats doctrines as testable and not dependent on the speaker's status or tradition.
The Three Tests For Doctrines
- Mozi prescribes three tests to evaluate doctrines: roots in sage deeds, verification by common observation, and usefulness.
- The tests aim to make doctrine adoption objective and broadly beneficial rather than elite-driven.
Listening To Ordinary People
- Mozi uniquely values the views of common people as part of verification, despite contemporaries distrusting popular opinion.
- This reflects Moism's anti-elitist stance and broadens moral authority beyond elite interpreters.
