Early mohist philosophy: reconstruction of its content and influence, deconstruction of its modern interpretation.

Id:KUL_3H090637

K.U.Leuven

Mozi (ca. 479- 381) was the first outspoken critic of Confucius (551-479) and the aristocratic tradition. Despite its initial success, Mohism is supposed to have disappeared in the Han dynasty (ca. 200 B.C). Only inthe early 20th century was Mozi rediscovered as the Chinese inventor of‘pragmatism’ and ‘utilitarianism’.Since the current interpretation of Mohism is thoroughly determined by this revival, this project combines a reconstruction of early Mohism with a deconstruction of its modern interpretation.-Reconstruction: based on research concerning the ‘core chapters’of the Mozi, extending to the largely neglected ‘summaries’ and ‘dialogues’, and to their influence in the Han dynasty;-Deconstruction: focusing on Hu Shi’s (1895-1961) appropriation of Mohist thought in terms of newly created philosophical neologisms during China’s general crisis in the early 20th century.The methodology is to analyze ‘persuasive definitions’: by giving new content to an emotively powerful word, one red

Timeframe:

1 Jan 2010 → 31 Dec 2013

Keywords:

Mohism Chinese philosophy Hu Shi Chinese intellectual history

Discipline codes:

• HUMANITIES (H)
  • Philosophy
    • History of philosophy
  • Philology
    • Languages and literatures of South and South-East Asia, Chinese