2. How to End Wars with Words: Three Argumentative Strategies by Mozi and His Followers

Abstract

This chapter discusses the three lines of argumentation such as moral argument, economic argument and religious argument, with extensive reference to the original text in translation. It explores what the argument in each of the three chapters entails, to whom it may have been addressed, and how persuasive it is from a modern academic perspective. To contextualize the three lines of argumentation, the author occasionally refer to other parts of the Mozi and to other early Chinese politico-philosophical writings. Finally the chapter gives examples of how these arguments were used in practice, at least according to the anecdotes in the latter part of the received Mozi . It shows how the Mohists actively adapted their argumentative strategies so as to find the best words to end wars. Keywords:economic argument; moral argument; Mozi ; religious argument; wars