Chapter 11 5. Equality leads to dictatorship

What the Mohists advocate is also a "society of bees and ants". That's right, Legalism came after Mohism, and Mozi came before Han Fei.When Legalism rose, Mohism had already declined.Therefore, it was impossible for the Mohists to agree with Han Fei.But as mentioned earlier, the two schools of ink and law are not only fundamentally opposed, but also sympathetic to each other.So, they come to the same goal by different routes, isn't it possible? It is entirely possible to advocate a "bee-ant society". Of course, this similarity is just coincidence.In fact, the bee and ant societies of the ink and law families only have the same structure.For the rest, the nature is different, the cause is different, and the way of realization is also different.Han Fei is a "nationalist".His proposition can only be used in the country, and can only be realized by the monarch.Mozi is a "socialist".What he advocates can be practiced by oneself.

Where is it practiced? in the organization. Unlike Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism, Mohism is not only a school, but also a group, and even a paramilitary organization.The members of the organization are called "mohist", and the leader of the organization is called "giant".Giants have a dual identity.He is both a mentor and a leader. He has the power to kill or seize his disciples. Mozi himself was like this. It is said that when Mozi was a giant, he had 180 people under his command.They are loyal and well trained.As long as Mozi gave an order, he jumped into the sea of ​​fire and walked into the mountain of swords, without turning his heels, and went up to face death, which is called "going to the fire and stepping on the edge, and death does not return the heels".

According to this posture, if the leader wants them to be human bombs, they will probably do it. Underworld?Is it a terrorist organization? No, peace org. Judging from the current situation, the Mohist group should be composed of a group of kind people.They love peace, work hard, can endure hardship, observe discipline, and are full of dedication and sacrifice.Mozi himself is kind-hearted and morally noble, putting hardship before enjoying pleasure.This is completely different from the kingdom that Shang Yang and Han Fei want to build and maintain. How is it also a society of bees and ants?

Because of ideals, because of values. So, what are the ideals and values ​​of Mohism? Fairness and justice, and equality. Indeed, Mohism pursues equality.They oppose benevolence and advocate universal love, because benevolence has levels, and universal love is about equality.Mozi advocated the reform of the distribution system and personnel system, so that self-sufficiency, distribution according to work, each doing his best, equal opportunities, and the pursuit of equality. This pursuit of the Mohists is the same as that of the Legalists.Legalism is also about equality.The Legalists advocated that "everyone is equal before the law".This point has been proved by Shang Yang's practice.Although Shang Yang couldn't bring the prince to justice, he did bring the prince's master to justice, which can be regarded as "the prince's crime is the same as that of the people".

What's more, the Legalists advocated that "everyone is equal before the monarch".This is even easier to do.Because in the legalist system, subjects are originally the monarch's worker bees and worker ants, what is the difference? Therefore, it is no problem for Legalists to talk about equality. Legalism is fine, and neither is Taoism.Taoism advocates that "everyone is equal before the Tao".It only takes one thought.Likewise, Confucianism is fine, because Confucianism doesn't talk about equality at all.Their proposition is reciprocity, such as the monarch benevolent and the minister loyal, the father benevolent and the son filial.

It seems that the Mohists are the only ones who have problems. what is the problem? In a society where everyone is equal, what should we do if there are differences of opinion? This question is very realistic and cannot be left unanswered. Han Fei's approach is "only the law", and Mo Zi's approach is "upholding the same". The only way to understand the Dharma is to listen to the Dharma.Including the monarch, he must also administer according to the law, and the only law is obedience.This is called "doing nothing illegal", which is also called "ruling the country by law".In fact, as long as we can "follow the public law and abolish private tricks" and "do not evade ministers for punishments and rewards for goodness", we will be equal.

So, what is Shangtong? Shang means Shang, Shang Tong means Shang Tong, i.e. Ditto, that is, all thoughts, concepts and opinions must be unified with the superior, and ultimately unified with Heaven.Moreover, this kind of unity is absolute and worthless, which is called "what is above must also be what is above; what is not above must also be what is not". Obviously, this is an absolute obedience. Absolute obedience is not surprising or even absolutely necessary for a paramilitary organization.The problem is, although there are many people at the lower level, there is not only one person at the upper level, so what should we do?

Mozi's approach is to "remain the same level by level". The so-called "remaining the same level by level" means that the villagers have different opinions, and the village chiefs will unify their opinions.If the head of the village cannot be unified, listen to the head of the village.If the villagers have different opinions, the head of the township will unify their opinions.The head of the township can't unify, listen to the king.If the national opinions differ, the monarch will unify their opinions.If the monarch cannot be unified, listen to the emperor.There is an emperor, and they can always be unified in the end.

This method can be called "Mohist democratic centralism". On the surface, there is "democracy" in it.Mozi stipulated that if the lower levels and the masses have opinions, they can raise them, and the higher levels should also listen to them.But at the same time, he stipulated that if the subordinates and the masses do not report the situation, they will be punished.So, is this so-called "democracy" a right or an obligation? What's more, the more important thing is "concentration".Moreover, according to the logic of level-by-level equality, the highest ideological power, discourse power, decision-making power, and judicial power are still with the Son of Heaven.The Son of Heaven is the spokesperson of truth and the supreme arbiter.

what is this? It is called democracy, but it is actually autocracy, even dictatorship. Under such a system, the nature of the organization must be totalitarian, and the power of the leader must also be absolute. It is not surprising that the Mohist group has become a society of bees and ants.Because those grassroots people who have only obligations but no rights are like worker bees and worker ants. The ink and law families finally came to the same goal by different routes.Despite the bee and ant society, the Mohists are civil organizations, and the Legalists are state organizations; the Mohists are for equality, and the Legalists are for the centralization of power.But it will eventually lead to dictatorship, it's the same.

At this time, perhaps it is time to listen to the ideas of Confucianism.

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