Mòzǐ: One of the classical ‘various masters’ texts of the Chinese philosophical tradition

“The Mòzǐ (墨子) is a foundational text in Chinese ethics, political theory, epistemology, logic, semantics, just war theory, economics, and science. One of the classical ‘various masters’ texts of the Chinese philosophical tradition, its systematic ethical and political theories constitute a milestone in the development of ancient philosophy, East or West. The Mohist were the first thinkers in the world to develop a consequentialist ethical theory, a brand of normative ethics that remains influential to this day. They may have been the earliest ethical thinkers to emphasize the notions of impartiality and equality. They were the first in the Chinese tradition to offer sustained, rigorous arguments for their views and the first to develop an explicit methodology of argumentation, based mainly on analogical judgment and reasoning, which influenced the rhetoric of all their contemporaries. Their writings deserve an English translation that allows readers to truly enter into and understand the Mohists’ world of thought.”—From the Introduction to Chris Fraser’s (Trans. with an Introduction and Notes) Mòzǐ—The Essential Mòzǐ: Ethical, Political, and Dialectical Writings (Oxford University Press, 2020).