The greatest paradox perhaps comes in the form of Mozi's criticism of Confucius (75-76): charging the latter with no proper recognition of social hierarchy, with mourning of wife/son the same length as father/mother; and with the belief in fate and thus trusting little to human initiatives. If anything, Confucius is most remembered for the social hierarchy it created, and the emphasis on human agency (e.g. human individual initiative in social prosperity). Such criticism, however, directs us to the fact that a system of thought is very complex. Despite that Confucians emphasized social hierarchy, certain aspects of Confucian teachings perhaps did not quite achieve that goal; and despite Mozi's teachings emphasized less ritual and hierarchy, obviously it was not against hierarchy!
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