The Mozi and Just War Theory in Pre-Han Thought

Abstract

TheMozipresents one of history’s earliest discussions of the justification for war.Moziand his followers held that although unprovoked aggression is always unjustified, defensive war and punitive aggression may sometimes be warranted. However, their criteria of just war are so stringent as to permit only defensive war, rendering offensive, punitive war nearly impossible to justify. The article reviews discussions of just war in theMoziand other pre-Han texts and discusses howThe Annals of Lü Buweipresents a conception of “righteous arms” as an alternative to the Mohist privileging of defensive over offensive war. I argue that, with minor refinements, the Mohist view answers theAnnals’ criticisms while underscoring problems concerning the justification of aggression that theAnnalsoverlooks. The article highlights how features of early Chinese justifications for war—most importantly, the analogy between just war and criminal punishment—raise deep problems for the justification of aggression.