Studies on Mo-Tzu

The school of thought of Mo-Tzu bloomed suddenly in the Warring States era and also faded suddenly in the Chin and Han Dynasty. This particular school of thought was in vogue for more than 200 years in the Warring States time era. With the Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty revered the Confucianism alone and rejected other hundred, school of Mo was repelled as illegitimate in academic, as a result, very few scholars studied the school of Mo during the past 2000 years. It was until the middle period of the Ching Dynasty that was the Chiang-Gia era that the scholars who have received the influence of the scientific way of thinking from the west gradually brake through the tradition. They tried to rearrange data regarding "Mo-Tzu" in order to give the school of thought an objective and fair appraisal.
　　The content of the thought of the school of Mo is broad and branched; it covers philosophy, science, ethics, theory of knowledge and defending skills. As to the works in ‘Mo Jing’ and ‘Mo Bien (debates)’, they are either too brief or too obscure to be comprehended. Until today, there are still lots of issues remained to be explored.
　　We adopt seminar as the way to proceed with this particular course; we will deliberated the surname, the nationality, the accomplishment and philosophical theory of Mo-Tzu. In addition, we will also explore and analyze the following topics: the emerging, declining and the influences of the school of Mo, the educational thought, the characteristics of the Mo literature, the critiques on Confucianism made by the Moist school, the ethics and theory of knowledge of the Moist school, the modern significance of the school of Mo and so on. Students will take turns to conduct oral report and discussion with topics drawn up by them.