Mo zi

[woodcutter]

It's a shame that Mo zi and mohism are not better known. It seems that this contemporary of Confucious was running around shoutin' about peace and love 500 years before Jesus, and 2500 years before John Lennon's first hit single. He was more popular than dull old Confucious too.

Anyone want to do an Ian Lee style comprehensive introduction to the man and his thought?

[skylee]

Thank you for mentioning 墨子. As usual I know very little about this (or any) school of thought, but I've read about it in 中國人史綱, and find the philosophy (yes) very touching. Jesus Christ was about 20 centuries too early for his time, and Mo Di was about 25 centuries too early (he was like a Zealot, was he not?). I am not capable of writing about it, but I copy below the relevant part from 中國人史綱 -

墨翟，鲁国人，孔丘的同乡。但他在宋国（河南商丘）的时候居多，从没有当过官，也从不去追求当官。他的中心思想是博爱、和平、反浪费、反享受、反侵略——不是反战，而只是反侵略。跟孔丘一样的是，他也拥有数目庞大的门徒。跟孔丘不一样的是，他的门徒有严密的组织。孔丘的门徒全力从事于歌颂孔丘，而墨翟的门徒则全力从事于实践墨翟的理想。所以墨翟不仅建立了被称为墨家的学派，还建立了墨党——为实行墨家学说的行动集团，这应该是中国历史上第一个民间政治性的组织。有一次。楚王国在科学家公输般的协助下，制造云梯，准备征服宋国。墨翟听到消息，为了拯救他的第二祖国，他从鲁国首府曲阜（山东曲阜）狂奔十昼夜，赶到楚王国首都若阝城（湖北钟祥西北)。曲阜到若阝城航空距离六百一十公里，千山万水，盘旋弯曲，即以最低限度两倍计算，也有一千四百公里，只走了十天（那时代还没有马匹，全靠徒步），可看出支持他拼命奔跑的爱心。到了若阝城，就在楚王面前设置沙盘，演习攻防。公输般用九种方法攻击，墨翟用九种方法防御。公输般不能取胜，最后，公输般说：“我还有最后的一着，但我不说出来。”墨翟说：“我知道你还有最后的一着，但我也不说出来。”楚王听不懂他们的哑谜，墨翟说；“公输般不过以为杀了我就可以解决问题，但我的三百余门徒在禽滑厘率领下，已进入宋国，登城协防，等待作战。”楚王于是下令取消这次军事行动。

正因为博爱与和平之故，这位思想大师提出若干问题。诸如：为什么在街上杀一人是犯罪，而在战场上杀一万人是英雄？为什么抢夺别人的鸡鸭是盗贼，而抢夺别人的国土是名将？为什么人民要忍饥挨饿去供养统治者享乐挥霍？为什么人民要把政权交给一家人世代相传？为什么一个人死后要用活人殉葬？为什么埋葬一个死人，要花费那么多钱？为什么父母死了，儿子要守丧三年，不去从事劳动生产，却平白受人供养？这些问题的提出，都冒犯到被隐蔽着的社会上的既得利益阶层，显示墨翟的高度智慧和高度勇气。也显示出墨家学派跟儒家学派恰恰相反，墨家学派追求的是一个新的社会秩序和新的人际关系。

墨翟死后（不知道他什么时候逝世），他的门徒把他生前的言论编纂为一本书，命名《墨子》，作为墨家学派的经典。

[bhchao]

I also do not know much about the details of Mozi's school of thought, other than that he stressed universal love. I find 荀子more interesting.

[skylee]

Some info in English -> http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CHPHIL/MOTZU.HTM

Search for "mo zi" and "mo tsu" and you will find more.

[bhchao]

Skylee, thanks for the link. Mozi's philosophy is indeed attractive, such as all human beings are "equal before heaven", and universal love for all human beings.

I agree with woodcutter about Confucius being a tad dull (no offense to the forum member). But I see Mozi in the same light too. Other people may find his school of thought very appealing, and it is when you first look at it on paper.

It would be nice if everyone practiced universal love for all human beings. But that is not the case today. If it was, the world would be perfect today. There would be no wars, etc. 荀子said that men/women were born bad, and needed to be educated and bred well in order to made good, because all human beings were born with an inner self-interest that dictates their actions. That is why I am drawn to 荀子's thinking, because it more accurately reflects the world we live in today.

If you are drawn to the idealistic view of what human beings should be, then Mozi is the man. If you are drawn to the realistic view of how many people in today's world operate, then 荀子 is the man.