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Full Idea
If people regarded other people's states in the same way that they regard their own, who then would incite their own state to attack that of another?
Gist of Idea
If people regarded other states as they did their own, they would never attack them
Source
Mozi (The Mozi [c.440 BCE], 16), quoted by Bryan van Norden - Intro to Classical Chinese Philosophy 4.I
Book Ref
Norden,Bryan van: 'Intro to Classical Chinese Philosophy' [Hackett 2011], p.51
A Reaction
A nice case of the application of golden rule thinking to states, instead of to individuals. I can't see Putin (in 2022) being impressed by 'how would you like it if another country invaded Russia?'. The Golden Rule is an analogy argument.
| 23395 | Mohists desire wealth, population and social order as the best consequences [Mozi, by Norden] |
| 23394 | If people regarded other states as they did their own, they would never attack them [Mozi] |
| 23396 | Mozi condemns partiality, which is the cause of all the great harms in the world [Mozi] |
| 23397 | Those who are against impartiality still prefer impartial protectors [Mozi] |