The Mozi as an Evolving Text: Different Voices in Early Chinese ThoughtCarine Defoort, Nicolas Standaert Mozi (ca. 479-381), known as the first outspoken critic of Confucius, is an important but neglected figure in early Chinese philosophy. The book 'Mozi', named after master Mo, was compiled in the course of the fifth - third centuries BCE. The seven studies included in the 'The Mozi as an Evolving Text' take a fresh look at the Core Chapters, Dialogues, and Opening Chapters of the book Mozi. Rather than presenting a unified vision of Mohist thought, the contributions search for different voices in the text and for evolutions or tensions between its chapters. By analysing the 'Mozi' as an evolving text, these studies not only contribute to the rejuvenation of Mozi studies, but also to the methodology of studying ancient Chinese texts. |
Contents
Different Voices in the Mozi Studies of an Evolving Text | 1 |
Are the Three Jian Ai Chapters about Universal Love? | 35 |
Three Argumentative Strategies by Mozi and his Followers | 69 |
Explaining Ghosts Again | 95 |
Mozis Remaking of Ancient Authority | 143 |
The Ethics of the Mohist Dialogues | 175 |
From Elevate the Worthy to Intimacy with Officers in the Mozi | 205 |
Heaven as a Standard | 237 |
| 271 | |
References to the Mozi | 281 |
| 287 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Analects ancient sage—kings argue argument attack benefit chap chapter 14 Confucian Core Chapters Dialogues difficult early Chinese early Mohists Elevate the Worthy essay Ethical evolution Fei gong figures final find first five Fraser gentlemen ghosts and spirits Graham Guishen zhi ming Han Feizi human idea identified inclusively jian jian ai later Lord Lushi chunqiu Master Mozi Mencius military aggression Ming gui Mohist thought Mohist view moral motivation Mozi 17 Mozi 31 Mozi 48 Mozi’s officers one’s opponents passage punish Qin shi received Mozi reference reflect reward ritual rulers sacrifice sages scholars sequence theory Shang xian Shanghai Museum fragment Shun specific spirit world standard suggests Sun Yirang Taeko Brooks Tang three chapters Tian zhi tion titles triplet Wang Chong warfare Warring States period Watanabe Takashi Wu Qi xiang Xunzi Zheng zhong Zhuangzi Zuozhuan