Final answer:
The central doctrine of Mohism is universal love and benevolence, focusing on actions that promote general welfare with a consequentialist approach, contrasting with Confucianism which emphasizes personal virtue and upholding social roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most central doctrine of Mohism is universal love and benevolence, contrasting with Confucian ethics in that it focuses on the consequences for determining the rightness of actions and policies, rather than purely on virtue cultivation. Whereas Confucianism emphasizes personal virtue and the importance of social roles and hierarchical relationships for social harmony, Mohism prioritizes actions that promote the general welfare and are right based on outcomes, advocating for a more egalitarian approach.
Mohist ethical theory comprises four interrelated concepts: morality, benefit, benevolence, and care. Mohism evaluates behavior according to how well it benefits others, with governance focused on promoting social welfare. In contrast, Confucianism builds upon the maintenance of ordered social roles to achieve harmony, asserting that people have inherent positions and corresponding duties within society.
Mozi, the founder of Mohism, sought a rational basis for ethics, rejecting the traditional hierarchical values by proposing impartial concern for all human beings as the objective standard for ethical action—represented by heaven in his philosophy. Confucianism, in contrast, centers around tradition, stressing the significance of virtue in perfecting oneself and maintaining predefined social structures.