Episode 27: Mohism—Two Arguments for Impartial Caring

About this episode

This episode examines the Mohist doctrine of impartial caring through two arguments in the Mozi and discusses various interpretations and their implications.

This episode examines the Mohist doctrine of impartial caring (jian'ai) via two arguments in the Mozi -- the Caretaker Argument and the Filial Piety Argument. We examine the arguments' logical structure, psychological plausibility, and practical applicability. We also discuss the importance of reciprocity, and competing interpretations of "impartial caring," from the less demanding don't-harm-anyone interpretation to stronger equal-concern readings, setting them against the Confucian model of...

People in this episode

Hosts: Richard Kim, Justin Tiwald

Topics covered

• Mohism
• impartial caring
• Caretaker Argument
• Filial Piety Argument
• reciprocity
• Confucian model

Keywords

• Mohism
• impartial caring
• Mozi
• arguments
• reciprocity
• Confucianism

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Mozi

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