공자와 묵자의 갈등관

Abstract

Confucius evaluates the loss of “benevolence” (ren 仁) and “rites and music” (li yue 禮樂) as the cause of conflicts. As the solution, he argues that one should recover morality through the practice of “benevolence” and restore the proper “rites and music.” This solution holds a preventive character. He believed that if people can become “gentlemen” (junzi 君子), who are agents of morality, then they can prevent the rise of conflicts, and even when conflicts arise, members of the society can actively resolve them with the “rites” as a model of resolution. His ideas on education and politics also aim for realizing this ideal society. However, even if individuals are moral, it does not guarantee the prevention of conflict at the communal level. Also, the insufficiency of ideas on how to negotiate social conflicts that have already taken place is a limitation of Confucius’ view. Consequently, Mozi evaluates that the selfishness and discrimination fomented by the desire to indulge oneself and inflict harm on others lay the grounds for conflict. Hence, Mozi proposed “universal love” as a remedy to this matter. This urges people to pursue love and interest in the levels of both the individual and the community. In this regard, by “exalting unity” (shang tong 尙同), Mozi intends to construct a social system that can realize the ideal of “universal love.” Mozi argues that conflict arises from the division of doctrines and opinions engendered by the lack of political leadership. Accordingly, to establish an ideal social system, opinions and doctrines of All-under-Heaven should be in accord with those of the “Son of Heaven” and “Heaven” (tian 天). As well as advocating the state implementation of political institutions such as “ordinances” and “rewards and punishments”, Mozi also calls upon religious powers such as “divine punishments” (tianfa 天罰) to bring order to the social system. The objective is to avoid the risk of conflict by unifying public opinion and settling conflicts by “exalting unity” as the basis. However, the idea is not without limits, viz. the stress on unity silences the diversity of voices, which can potentially create new conflicts.