Description
Product ID: | 9780231149273 |
Product Form: | Paperback / softback |
Country of Manufacture: | US |
Title: | The Philosophy of the Mozi |
Subtitle: | The First Consequentialists |
Authors: | Author: Chris Fraser |
Page Count: | 320 |
Subjects: | East Asian and Indian philosophy, Oriental & Indian philosophy, Indigenous religions, spiritual beliefs and mythologies of the Americas, Ancient religions & mythologies, China |
Description: | Select Guide Rating Mohism was an ancient Chinese philosophical movement founded in the fifth century BCE by the charismatic artisan Mozi, or "Master Mo." Its practitioners advanced a consequentialist ethics, along with fascinating political, logical, and epistemological theories, that set the terms of philosophical argumentation and reflection in China for generations to come. Mohism faded away in the imperial era, leaving the impression that it was not as vital as other Chinese philosophical traditions, yet a complete understanding of Confucianism or Daoism is impossible without appreciating the seminal contribution of Mohist thought. The Philosophy of the Mozi is an extensive study of Mohism, situating the movement's rise and decline within Chinese history. The book also emphasizes Mohism's relevance to modern systems of thought. Mohism anticipated Western utilitarianism by more than two thousand years. Its political theory is the earliest to outline a just war doctrine and locate the origins of government in a state of nature. Its epistemology, logic, and psychology provide compelling alternatives to contemporary Western mentalism. More than a straightforward account of Mohist principles and practice, this volume immerses readers in the Mohist mindset and clarifies its underpinning of Chinese philosophical discourse. |
Imprint Name: | Columbia University Press |
Publisher Name: | Columbia University Press |
Country of Publication: | GB |
Publishing Date: | 2016-09-13 |