Fēi Mìng 非命

‘Rejecting Fatalism’: a triad of chapters that develops one of the most explicitly methodological arguments in the Mòzǐ. After presenting the famous sān biǎo  ‘three tests’ for evaluating doctrines, it applies them to fatalism, arguing that beliefs have social consequences and that doctrines which undermine effort, responsibility, and effective action are politically dangerous. The Fēi Mìng chapters are especially important for their concern with standards of evaluation and the practical effects of belief.