Mozi’s Argument for Attaining and Benefiting from Impartiality

Mozi (c. 480-390 B.C.E) was written by Mozi, a Chinese Philosopher who led an organized utopian movement in China. The movement occurred during an era marked by social and political distress, which led to moral challenges. In Mozi, the author reflects on his goals in terms of political action, which primarily involves direct social action. For example, he believed that military defense of states and cities were targets of expansionist wars. “Chapter Sixteen: Impartial Caring” underscores the idea that individuals and governments should strive toward impartiality because it is beneficial to everyone. 

Mozi defines impartiality -- for both individual and collective -- as the demonstration of equal concern and consideration of all possible perspectives and/or interests. He argues people should regard other people and their states the same way they would their own because it leads to the better treatment of others. For example, “If people regarded other people’s cities in the same way that they regard their own, who then would incite their own city to attack that of another? For one would do for others as one would do for oneself.” 

Mozi’s ‘cities’ are a vehicle for discussing any two parties, whether individuals or nations altogether. When both parties hold an equal amount of respect for each other, it prevents what otherwise becomes a chronic need for superiority, overtaking, and violence. Furthermore, beyond preventing conflict, the author implies that impartiality translates to individuals treating one another as kindly as they do those closest to them. 

Partiality, on the other hand, prevents states from progressing and becoming non-self-threatening entities. It is a reservation of better treatment for certain individuals or states based on personal relationships, social status, or other arbitrary factors. Mozi asserts that this tendency is the root of all core problems in society (i.e. exploitation of the meager, interpersonal conflicts, and challenges between bodies of power and society). Impartiality prevents these societal shortcomings. 

One might object and state that impartiality is impossible to achieve, arguing that to be truly impartial, we would be forced to give up all relationships. This is an unattainable goal because relationship-seeking is an inherent mechanism in humans. Impartiality asks us to give up favoritism towards certain individuals, which is extremely challenging in a relationship. When reflecting upon our intimate relationships, we experience a deep sense of commitment and devotion. We will go to great lengths for those closest to us and have a feeling of debt that we feel surpasses our obligations to strangers. Our willingness to go above and beyond for a certain individual goes against what impartiality stands for. Therefore, we must give up relationships. This demonstrates that achieving impartiality is unattainable because relationships are vital to our mental and emotional well–being. Humans have an inherent desire to have relationships and to be social, this allows us a sense of community. Furthermore, when one experiences hardships, they seek support in their relationships. For example, if you have a significant personal setback, you seek support from your loved ones. This could be losing a job, failing a class, or losing a sports tournament. When we seek support we share our worries, we seek empathy, and we seek reassurance. 

Without relationships, we would feel lost and our physical and mental health would deteriorate because we do not feel a sense of belonging to a community. Moreover, we would not have a support system in times of need. If society is chaotic without relationships, then states and individuals cannot truly reap the benefits of impartiality. Therefore, we should strive to stay partial. 

Although this objection initially appears strong because the consequences outweigh the benefits of impartiality, it is unfounded because it twists Mozi’s words. Impartiality does not require the loss of all relationships, conversely, it increases the amount of relationships you have. The concern with relationships arises with how close you are to certain individuals. Impartiality allows you to have relationships, but you cannot maintain relationships in which you strongly favor an individual over others. This likely entails losing a best friend or relationships very close to you. Initially, you would feel a great sense of loss, which stems from the sense of the loss of community. However, long term, you would be gaining relationships with everyone surrounding you, which would ultimately strengthen the feeling of community and a sense of belonging. 

Moreover, you would benefit from having relationships with everyone because when society is a community without bias, it means individuals and governments help those who truly need help. Mozi explains how impartiality benefits everyone when he states, “If one takes impartiality as the correct standard and truly seeks to promote and procure what is beneficial to the world, then whose with sharp ears and keen eyes will listen and look out for others…Young and helpless orphans who are without father or mother will find the support they need to reach maturity.”

The excerpt depicts that you do not lose a support system, but in actuality have an unwavering sense of a support system in place because now everyone pursues to help those who need it. The abandonment of success over one another allows society and governments to care for the collective self. This society poses no threats to itself and can focus fully on improvement. 

In conclusion, Mozi asserts that humanity should strive toward impartiality because it will benefit us all. Impartiality nullifies many of our society’s longest-standing plagues: class imbalances, ideological unrest, hatred, war, and so on. Impartiality does not mean giving up relationships, but instead opening ourselves to a new generation of relationships. These relationships prevent us from becoming small units moving through our lifespans and allow society to function as one core unit, with collective interests, discourse, and goals.