Legalism 1213
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Transcript of Legalism 1213
Legalism: Ends and MeansWorld History, 9St. Anne’s-Belfield
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Continuity: Ends
In terms of historical context, what did Legalism have in common with Confucianism?
In terms of goals, what did Legalism have in common with Confucianism and Taoism?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concept I: View of Human Nature
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concept I: View of Human Nature
• What was the Confucian view of human nature?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concept I: View of Human Nature
• What was the Confucian view of human nature? What were the means of Confucianism?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concept I: View of Human Nature
• What was the Confucian view of human nature? What were the means of Confucianism?
How would these means be implemented?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concept I: View of Human Nature
• What was the Confucian view of human nature? What were the means of Confucianism?
How would these means be implemented?
What view of human nature is revealed by Confucian means?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concept I: View of Human Nature
• What was the Confucian view of human nature? What were the means of Confucianism?
How would these means be implemented?
What view of human nature is revealed by Confucian means?
•What appears to be the Legalist view of human nature?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concept I: View of Human Nature
• What was the Confucian view of human nature? What were the means of Confucianism?
How would these means be implemented?
What view of human nature is revealed by Confucian means?
•What appears to be the Legalist view of human nature?
PEOPLE ARE INHERENTLY BAD AND DRIVEN BY SELFISH DESIRES!
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concept I: View of Human Nature
• What was the Confucian view of human nature? What were the means of Confucianism?
How would these means be implemented?
What view of human nature is revealed by Confucian means?
•What appears to be the Legalist view of human nature?
PEOPLE ARE INHERENTLY BAD AND DRIVEN BY SELFISH DESIRES!
Historically, on what was this view of human nature based?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
1. Legalists believed that morality was based on selfish, individual motives
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
1. Legalists believed that morality was based on selfish, individual motives How could Confucian morality be used for selfish gain?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
1. Legalists believed that morality was based on selfish, individual motives How could Confucian morality be used for selfish gain?
! –Useless to try to educate people in morality; they’ll just be selfish
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
1. Legalists believed that morality was based on selfish, individual motives How could Confucian morality be used for selfish gain?
! –Useless to try to educate people in morality; they’ll just be selfish
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
1. Legalists believed that morality was based on selfish, individual motives How could Confucian morality be used for selfish gain?
! –Useless to try to educate people in morality; they’ll just be selfish
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
2. Filial piety undermines a powerful military structure
1. Legalists believed that morality was based on selfish, individual motives How could Confucian morality be used for selfish gain?
! –Useless to try to educate people in morality; they’ll just be selfish
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
2. Filial piety undermines a powerful military structure– Why would this be true?
1. Legalists believed that morality was based on selfish, individual motives How could Confucian morality be used for selfish gain?
! –Useless to try to educate people in morality; they’ll just be selfish
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts II: MeansRejection of Confucian Morality (Goodness)
2. Filial piety undermines a powerful military structure– Why would this be true?Instills a sense of shame so that you won’t dishonor law and propriety
1. Legalists believed that morality was based on selfish, individual motives How could Confucian morality be used for selfish gain?
! –Useless to try to educate people in morality; they’ll just be selfish
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts III: MeansThe Concept of Law
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts III: MeansThe Concept of Law
Stability required rule by law and a powerful state– According to Legalists, what did the establishment and maintenance of a strong state and rule by law require?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts III: MeansThe Concept of Law
Stability required rule by law and a powerful state– According to Legalists, what did the establishment and maintenance of a strong state and rule by law require?Ruler considered the
cornerstone of stability
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts III: MeansThe Concept of Law
Stability required rule by law and a powerful state– According to Legalists, what did the establishment and maintenance of a strong state and rule by law require?Ruler considered the
cornerstone of stabilityRuler->rule by law->
strong state->stability
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts III: MeansThe Concept of Law
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Key Legalist Concepts III: MeansThe Concept of Law
Instead of morality, Legalists emphasized the importance of harsh and
inflexible law enforced by a powerful ruler as the only
means of achieving an orderly, prosperous society
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Law Under the Legalists
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Law Under the Legalists
Legalists argued for an elaborate system of laws defining fixed penalties for each offense, with no exceptions for rank, class or circumstances- NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW EXCEPT THE RULER!
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Day 2- The Basics of Legalism
1.Humans are inherently bad and driven by selfish desires
2.Confucian morality does not work to establish and maintain order
3.Strict laws and harsh punishments are necessary to create and maintain order.
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Tuesday, December 18, 12
What steps were taken by Shih Huang Ti to return peace, order, and stability
to China?
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Do the ends justify the
means of strict laws and harsh
punishments (Legalist
philosophy)?Tuesday, December 18, 12
Tuesday, December 18, 12
Which view on human nature is correct--the Confucian view
that people are innately good or the
Legalist view that humans are evil and
driven by selfish desire?
Tuesday, December 18, 12