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Mohist consequentialism, also known as state consequentialism, is an ethical theory which evaluates the moral worth of an action based on how much it contributes to the welfare of a state.
According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Mohist consequentialism, dating back to the 5th century BCE, is the " world's earliest form of consequentialism, a remarkably sophisticated version based on a plurality of intrinsic goods taken as constitutive of human welfare.
" Unlike utilitarianism, which views pleasure as a moral good, " the basic goods in Mohist consequentialist thinking are ... order, material wealth, and increase in population ".
During Mozi's era, war and famines were common, and population growth was seen as a moral necessity for a harmonious society.
The " material wealth " of Mohist consequentialism refers to basic needs like shelter and clothing, and the " order " of Mohist consequentialism refers to Mozi's stance against warfare and violence, which he viewed as pointless and a threat to social stability.
Stanford sinologist David Shepherd Nivison, in the The Cambridge History of Ancient China, writes that the moral goods of Mohism " are interrelated: more basic wealth, then more reproduction ; more people, then more production and wealth ... if people have plenty, they would be good, filial, kind, and so on unproblematically.
" In contrast to Bentham's views, state consequentialism is not utilitarian because it is not hedonistic.
The importance of outcomes that are good for the state outweigh the importance of individual pleasure and pain.

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