A Study on the Substance and Effect of Mozi's Aesthetic Thought

This paper examines the practical utility and practical application of Mozi's aesthetic philosophy from the perspective of the lower classes during China's Warring States Period. Mozi, in his "unprofitable music," believed that the lower classes shouldered the costs associated with musical instrument production, while the upper classes, who did not engage in the production of musical instruments, were merely exploiters. Mozi believed that humans and animals were distinct, and that humans could only survive through their own labor and work. In this sense, Mozi's "unprofitable music" possesses its own positive value. However, it can be seen as originating from the extreme utilitarianism of the ancient petty producer class, and as a denial of aesthetics and art. Slave societies were the first to create great cultures throughout history, and later human cultures were built upon this system. Mozi played a crucial role in sustaining interest in the relationship between beauty and utility. Furthermore, he exerted a significant influence on later generations by exposing and criticizing rulers' pursuit of beauty and their indulgence in extravagance and greed.