The mohist conception of reality

Abstract

The first systematic philosophers in the Chinese tradition, Mozi and his followers established a general theoretical orientation, conceptual framework, and technical philosophical vocabulary that came to be widely shared throughout pre-Han philosophy, even by thinkers who rejected their substantive views. Mohist thought thus exemplifies characteristic general features of early Chinese metaphysics and in several key respects sets the agenda for the development of classical Chinese metaphysical discourse. This chapter will elucidate these points by articulating the conception of reality that emerges from the doctrines concerning the “Three Models” (san fa), tian (heaven), and ming (fate) presented in the core books of the Mozi and by exploring the metaphysical, metaethical, and epistemological consequences of these doctrines.