Within a Mohist vision of society, government stands as the primary instrument through which universal love and meritocracy are made concrete in public life. Authority is understood as hierarchical and ordered, yet it is not justified by birth or privilege; rather, it is grounded in the capacity to care impartially for all and to bring tangible benefit to the people. The ruler and officials are expected to serve as moral exemplars, aligning their conduct with the ideal of caring equally for all rather than favoring family, faction, or class. In this way, political power is not an end in itself, but a means for realizing a more impartial and inclusive form of concern for “all under Heaven.”

Meritocratic selection is central to this arrangement, for the Mohist state entrusts authority only to those whose virtue and ability have been clearly demonstrated. Offices are to be filled and maintained on the basis of moral character, practical competence, and concrete results, with promotion and demotion tied to whether an official actually benefits the people. The government thus functions as a kind of moral and practical filter, elevating those who can administer effectively and removing those whose actions bring harm. This merit-based structure is intended to secure a stable order in which responsibility flows upward and care flows downward through the ranks of administration.

At the same time, government is charged with promoting universal benefit in the most practical sense: increasing material welfare, strengthening social order, and protecting the population from harm. Policies and standards are to be judged by whether they reduce aggression, waste, and partiality, and whether they improve the basic conditions of life such as security, livelihood, and social harmony. Rather than indulging in extravagance or empty ritual, the state is expected to focus on effective, results-oriented governance that yields visible improvements in people’s lives. In this role, government becomes both moral educator and practical administrator, using clear standards, rewards, and punishments to guide conduct toward universal love and away from selfish or destructive behavior.

Underlying this entire framework is the conviction that a unified set of moral and practical standards is necessary for genuine order. By articulating and enforcing consistent norms aligned with universal love, the Mohist state seeks to eliminate conflicting values that generate disorder and suffering. The legitimacy of the hierarchy thus rests not on sheer power, but on its success in embodying impartial concern and in maximizing benefit while minimizing harm for the whole community.