Comparing and Contrasting Confucianism and Legalism Essay Example

peoples. Merely the good off male members of society could have the needed instruction required to be a gentleman.

An illustration of this is: “The Master said. A gentleman who is widely versed in letters and at the same clip knows how to subject his larning the restraints of rite is non likely. I think. to travel far incorrect. ” The Legalism school emphasizes the use of inducements and formal establishments. Under the Legalism. the swayer provides strong inducements to local functionaries which may take to side effects because some activities are noncontractible. The cold-blood image of the Legalism may alien citizens. As for the stipulation of the Legalists’ ideas. there are a few cardinal premises or judgements that we can happen from the texts.

As an independent school of ideas in order to separate itself among all Hundreds of Schools and set aside all past ideals and criterions. the Legalists. foremost of all. believed in the inevitableness of a changeless alteration in society. As noted by Han Fei ( d. 233 B. C. E. ) . “past and present have different customs” ( 101 ) ; at a “critical age” of the helter-skelter Warring States. “to attempt to utilize the ways of a generous and indulgent authorities to govern the people. ” is like seeking to “drive a runaway Equus caballus without utilizing reins or whip” ( 101 ) .

As a public rebelliousness of the yesteryear. this cardinal believe in a changing universe clearly draw the lodger between the Legalists and other schools headed by Confucianism. which was confirmed by Han Fei: “it is obvious that humaneness can non be used to accomplish order in the

state” ( 102 ) . It is non clear at this point whether it is rational for the Legalists to reason that Confucianism is of no usage to be applied in the current society. However. we should be able to state. as has been proven throughout the history. that Legalists were rectify on their house believe in change-to-fit.

More significantly. those thoughts had opened up the infinite for the Legalists to use farther reforms. A 3rd implicit in premiss. which is likely the most indispensable in puting the flash-and-burn nature of the Legalists. is an all-too-confident trust in the ruler’s ability and virtuousness every bit good as an about cultic. absolute believe his monarchical power. or in a term that might win favour in forepart of the emperor. divinity – “The sage swayer. by his government of work forces is certain to win their Black Marias ; accordingly he is able to exercise strength.

Strength produces force ; force produces prestigiousness ; prestige produces virtuousness. Virtue has its beginning in strength. The sage swayer entirely possesses it. and hence he is able to convey humaneness and rightness to all-under-heaven…” ( Shang 259 ) . However. I believe this is non rather briefly what the Legalists hold a steadfast believe in ; such rhetoric might merely stand for the thought from an angle that the swayer could accept at easiness.

Bing a political establishment and a critical portion of the government. the Legalists have concerns for themselves and may therefore seek personal and power promotion every bit good in their helping the province. With such a idea. the 3rd premiss can be better stated as: all persons. governments and

authorities setup will ne'er run into involvement struggles with. and will ever shack under. the centralised disposal headed by a bantam minority of people who have the ultimate domination and power.

Noteworthily. such a stipulation has an immediate agreement with the societal demand at that clip as mentioned earlier. in which a rational authorities can afford greater centralised power so as to beef up a province against its rival provinces. It besides represents a important function in doing possible Qin’s subsequently bid and conquerings every bit good as a suicidal consequence over the internal authorities construction.