Mozi

Little is known of Mozi’s life. He may have been a craftsman before becoming a teacher, and he led a disciplined movement whose members included experts in defending cities under siege. The Mozi, compiled by his followers, records their teachings.

Against the Confucians, the Mohists argued that we should care for everyone impartially rather than favouring our own family and state, and that policies should be judged by whether they benefit the people. They condemned aggressive war and lavish ritual and music. They were also China’s first systematic arguers, and later Mohists did pioneering work in logic and science. His dates are approximate: he was active around 430 BCE.