Not enough people know about the Mohists, a strikingly modern group of Chinese philosophers active in 479-221 BCE. This episode features Chris Fraser, expert on Mohism and professor of philosophy at the University of Hong Kong. Chris and Julia discuss how the Mohists put their philosophy into practice and got Chinese leaders to hold off on starting wars; how their philosophy was similar to and different from modern consequentialism; why their movement died out, and what modern groups like Effective Altruists can learn from their story.

Rationally Speaking #223 - Chris Fraser on "The Mohists, ancient China's philosopher warriors"

Rationally Speaking is the bi-weekly podcast of New York City Skeptics. Join host Julia Galef and guests as they explore the borderlands between reason and nonsense, likely from unlikely, and science from pseudoscience. Any topic is fair game as long as we can bring reason to bear upon it, with both a skeptical eye and a good dose of humor!
We agree with the Marquis de Condorcet, who said that in an open society we ought to devote ourselves to "the tracking down of prejudices in the hiding places where priests, the schools, the government, and all long-established institutions had gathered and protected them."Rationally Speaking was co-created with Massimo Pigliucci, is produced by Benny Pollak, and is recorded in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village.

Society & Culture

Science

Philosophy

Rationally Speaking is the bi-weekly podcast of New York City Skeptics. Join host Julia Galef and guests as they explore the borderlands between reason and nonsense, likely from unlikely, and science from pseudoscience. Any topic is fair game as long as we can bring reason to bear upon it, with both a skeptical eye and a good dose of humor! We agree with the Marquis de Condorcet, who said that in an open society we ought to devote ourselves to "the tracking down of prejudices in the hiding places where priests, the schools, the government, and all long-established institutions had gathered and protected them."Rationally Speaking was co-created with Massimo Pigliucci, is produced by Benny Pollak, and is recorded in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village.

Share Rationally Speaking #223 - Chris Fraser on "The Mohists, ancient China's philosopher warriors"

Sign up to save your podcasts

Rationally Speaking #223 - Chris Fraser on "The Mohists, ancient China's philosopher warriors"

Rationally Speaking #223 - Chris Fraser on "The Mohists, ancient China's philosopher warriors"

More shows like Rationally Speaking Podcast

Freakonomics Radio

Fresh Air

The Joe Rogan Experience

Planet Money

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

99% Invisible

StarTalk Radio

Conversations with Tyler

Science Vs

The Daily

The Good Fight

The Ezra Klein Show

Apple News In Conversation