Oh, wow, Mohists do sound really awesome.From wikipedia:
The Mohists formed a highly structured political organization that tried to realize the ideas they preached, the writings of Mozi. Like Confucians, they hired out their services not only for gain, but also in order to realize their own ethical ideals. This political structure consisted of a network of local units in all the major kingdoms of China at the time, made up of elements from both the scholarly and working classes. Each unit was led by a juzi (literally, “chisel”—an image from craft making). Within the unit, a frugal and ascetic lifestyle was enforced. Each juzi would appoint his own successor. Mohists developed the sciences of fortification[clarification needed] and statecraft, and wrote treatises on government, ranging in topic from efficient agricultural production to the laws of inheritance. They were often hired by the many warring kingdoms as advisers to the state. In this way, they were similar to the other wandering philosophers and knights-errant of the period.
Sure, it’s “similar to the other wandering philosophers and knights-errant of the period”, but it’s such a good position for a group of proto-rationalists to be in.
And their philosophy has so much in common with EA! They’re utilitarian consequentialists! (Not hedonists, but some kind of utilitarian.)
Personally, I feel a lot of spiritual kinship towards Mohists (imo much cooler by my modern/Westernized tastes than Legalists, Daoists, Confucians and other philosophies popular during that time).
(the story below is somewhat stylized. Don’t take it too literally).
The Mohists’ main shtick is that they’d travel the land teaching their ways during the Warring States period, particularly towards weaker nations at risk of being crushed by larger/more powerful ones. Their reputation was great enough that kings will call off invasions based only on the knowledge that Mohist disciples are defending targeted cities.
One (somewhat anachronistic) analogy I like thinking of Mohists is as nerdy Jedi. They are organized in semi-monastic orders. They live ascetic lifestyles, denying themselves worldly pleasures for the greater good. They are exquisitely trained in the relevant crafts (diplomacy and lightsaber combat for Jedi; logic, philosophy, and siege engineering for Mohists).
Even their most critical flaws are similar to that of Jedi. In particular, their rejection of partiality and emotion feels reminiscent of what led to the fall of the Jedi (though I have no direct evidence it was actually bad for Mohist goals). More critically, their short-term moral goals do not align with a long-term stable strategy. In hindsight, we know that preserving “balance” between the various kingdoms was not a stable strategy since “empire” was an attractor state.
In the Mohists’ case, they fought on the side of losing states. Unfortunately, eventually one state won, and then the ruling empire’s morality were not fans of philosophies that espoused defending the weak.
Oh, wow, Mohists do sound really awesome. From wikipedia:
Sure, it’s “similar to the other wandering philosophers and knights-errant of the period”, but it’s such a good position for a group of proto-rationalists to be in.
And their philosophy has so much in common with EA! They’re utilitarian consequentialists! (Not hedonists, but some kind of utilitarian.)
Personally, I feel a lot of spiritual kinship towards Mohists (imo much cooler by my modern/Westernized tastes than Legalists, Daoists, Confucians and other philosophies popular during that time).
(the story below is somewhat stylized. Don’t take it too literally).
The Mohists’ main shtick is that they’d travel the land teaching their ways during the Warring States period, particularly towards weaker nations at risk of being crushed by larger/more powerful ones. Their reputation was great enough that kings will call off invasions based only on the knowledge that Mohist disciples are defending targeted cities.
One (somewhat anachronistic) analogy I like thinking of Mohists is as nerdy Jedi. They are organized in semi-monastic orders. They live ascetic lifestyles, denying themselves worldly pleasures for the greater good. They are exquisitely trained in the relevant crafts (diplomacy and lightsaber combat for Jedi; logic, philosophy, and siege engineering for Mohists).
Even their most critical flaws are similar to that of Jedi. In particular, their rejection of partiality and emotion feels reminiscent of what led to the fall of the Jedi (though I have no direct evidence it was actually bad for Mohist goals). More critically, their short-term moral goals do not align with a long-term stable strategy. In hindsight, we know that preserving “balance” between the various kingdoms was not a stable strategy since “empire” was an attractor state.
In the Mohists’ case, they fought on the side of losing states. Unfortunately, eventually one state won, and then the ruling empire’s morality were not fans of philosophies that espoused defending the weak.