 The Mohists constituted a philosophical school founded by Mozi, who was roughly contemporaneous with Confucius. Not much is known about him, but a reasonable speculation is that Mozi came from an artisan background. The text bearing his name contains purported quotations from Mozi, but it is manifestly the contribution of different persons over a substantial period of time. The text advocates a consequentialist ethic that requires concern and acting for the benefit of all, where the kind of benefit of greatest concern involves material goods to satisfy the basic needs of all (e.g., enough food, shelter and warm clothing), sufficient population, and social order. The Mozi’s conception of benefit is very concrete and relatively narrow compared to forms of consequentialism that were to become dominant in the West (though the Mohist conception of order may, as will be discussed later, include the relational virtues such as filiality). Arguably, Mohists were justified in setting their priorities on the most urgent needs.