非命 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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fēimìng 非命

Rejection of Fatalism

反对人事由命运所决定的观念。“非命”是墨家的基本主张之一。墨子提出,人民的贫富、国家的治乱都取决于人自身的作为,而不是由命运所决定的。将人事托付于命运,是在推卸行为主体的责任,只会导致国乱民贫。只有依据“兼爱”等道德原则,通过自身的努力作为,才能获得实际的利益。

A belief that events are not predetermined and a denial of fate is a basic component of Mohist thought. Mozi proposed that poverty and turmoil are brought about by our own acts rather than predetermined by fate. Blaming human affairs on fate is nothing other than relieving actors of responsibility for their actions and will only bring chaos to the state and poverty to the people. Only by embracing ethical principles such as impartial love and by our own efforts, can we gain practical benefits.

引例 Citation:

◎执有命者,此天下之厚害也,是故子墨子非也。(《墨子·非命中》)

(主张命运决定人事的人,是天下的大害,因此墨子反对他们的主张。)

Those who hold that there is fate are harmful to the world. For that reason Mozi is opposed to their stand. (Mozi)

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