Episode 31: The Great Music Debate -- Mohists vs. Classical Confucians
About this episode
The episode discusses the philosophical debate between Mohists and Classical Confucians regarding the role of music in society.
Is music an extravagance in a world of scarcity or a necessary expression of our humanity? We explore Mozi’s consequentialist condemnation of elaborate musical performances and Xunzi’s argument that music, proper guided, plays a critical role in taming unruly emotions and building social bonds. Beneath the disagreement lies a profound clash over basic human goods, how emotion should be shaped, and whether the arts are dispensable or essential to human flourishing. Many thanks to The Hong Kon...
More episodes of This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast
- Episode 33: Carrots, Sticks, and Rituals
- Episode 32: Music Has in It neither Grief nor Joy
- Episode 30: Confucianism and Reverential Reading
- Episode 29: Shen Dao on Law
- Episode 28: Mencius Against Mohist Impartialism
- Episode 27: Mohism—Two Arguments for Impartial Caring
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast podcast page.