 That is to say, part of the Mohists’ interest in the analysis of language stems from a firm conviction that the semantical distinctions uncovered by careful analysis can help put to rest certain questions about the legitimacy of their basic moral beliefs. The Mohists insisted that proper conduct involves “loving all people without exception” (which implies opposing acts of murder), but they were also not opposed to the “justified execution” of those found guilty of serious crime. When questioned on grounds of inconsistency, they replied by pointing out that the endorsement of justified execution is not an inhumane act that compromises their stance on the value of loving all people. This might not have convinced many of their interlocutors that their doctrine of universal love is justified, but it would have put to rest the charge that they were being illogical, and in any case consistency would surely have been conceived as a mark of superiority over any of the views of their opponents incapable of withstanding comparable scrutiny.