more on this theme     |     more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 23394

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 2. Golden Rule ]

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.