The Philosophy of Mozi: China's First Consequentialist Thinker

“China’s First Consequentialist Thinker.” Now, that’s a loaded phrase. We’re talking about someone who, over two thousand years ago, developed an ethical framework that judges actions based on their outcomes - their consequences - rather than on adherence to tradition or ritual. This is remarkable because in the Western philosophical tradition, we don’t see consequentialism fully articulated until Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill in the 18th and 19th centuries. But here’s Mozi, doing this in ancient China, and he’s doing it while actively challenging the dominant Confucian worldview that shaped Chinese civilization. And get this - the subtitle promises we’re going to explore “the revolutionary ideas of a forgotten sage who challenged the foundations of Chinese thought and championed universal love for all humanity.” Universal love. In the Warring States period. When everyone was literally at war with everyone else. Talk about reading the room, right? “Hello, curious minds! I’m Lyon Leshley, a passionate educator with over 20 years of experience. I am taking full advantage of the AI revolution to provide free education content. At my YouTube, Rumble, and Odysee channels we dive deep into the fascinating worlds of philosophy, history, literature, science, and so much more.” Education is more than just learning—it’s a journey of growth, discovery, and enlightenment. Whether you’re a student, a lifelong learner, or just someone who loves to explore new ideas, my channel is your gateway to knowledge.“ “And the best part? Every lecture comes with a free e-book download on Gumroad, and all my content is available in 20 different languages, ensuring that knowledge knows no boundaries.” “Join learners from around the globe as we break down barriers and make education accessible to everyone. You can find all my social media links and support this mission by visiting my webpage at leshley.ca or my Gravatar page at gravatar.com/lyonleshley. If you’d like to donate directly, head over to my Gumroad page at https://shop.leshley.ca/coffee Video lectures with subtitles translated into 28 languages are available at https://www.youtube.com/@learn.w.leshley and https://tube.leshley.ca/