Listen "Episode 27: Mohism—Two Arguments for Impartial Caring"
Episode Synopsis
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 care with distinctions (graded love). We also consider what genuine filiality requires and how different moral frameworks shape familial and social practices.Many thanks to The Hong Kong Ethics Lab for sponsoring this podcast series.Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Want to skip to the philosophical content? 4:01 Preface to today's topic: arguments for impartial caring (jian'ai 兼愛)Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website
More episodes of the podcast This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast
Episode 25: Daoist Utopia
18/09/2025
Episode 24: Robber Zhi—Honor Among Thieves?
28/08/2025
Episode 22: The Good Life in the Analects
18/07/2025
Episode 18: Neo-Confucian Metaphysics
08/03/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.