The document discusses key concepts of Legalism, an ancient Chinese philosophy that emphasized rule by law and a powerful central government. According to Legalism, human nature is inherently selfish and people are driven by self-interest. In contrast to Confucianism which believed people could be governed by moral example, Legalism held that a strong ruler enforcing harsh and inflexible laws was needed to maintain stability and order. The Ch'in Dynasty put Legalist ideas into practice by unifying and standardizing China under Shih Huang Ti's powerful central rule.

1. Legalist Philosophy:
Law, Methods,
Power­base
World History I
St. Anne’s-Belfield

2. Continuity with Confucianism
and Taoism
In terms of goals, what did Legalism have in
common with Confucianism and Taoism?

3. Key Legalist Concepts I
View of Human Nature
View of Human Nature
According to Confucius, what was the principle
responsibility of the ruler?
• Confucius had suggested that men should be governed
primarily by the MORAL EXAMPLE of a good ruler
• What was the Confucian view of human nature?
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?

4. Key Legalist Concepts II:
Refutation of Conventional Morality
1. Refutation of Conventional Morality
Legalists believed that morality was
based in selfish, individual motives 3. Filial piety undermines a
How could Confucian morality powerful military structure
be used for selfish gain? – Why would this be true?
–Useless to try to educate people in Instills a sense of shame so that you
morality; they’ll just be selfish won’t dishonor law and propriety
2. Confucian morality does not work
under modern circumstances
-What changed between ancient and
modern times which made
morality obsolete?

5. Key Legalist Concepts III:
The Concept of Law
The Concept of Law
Stability required ruleof morality,
Instead by Legalists
law and a powerful state
emphasized the importance of
– According to Legalists, what
did the establishment and and inflexible law
harsh
maintenance ofenforced by a powerful ruler
a strong state
and rule by law require?
as the only means of
Ruler considered the
cornerstone of stability an orderly,
achieving
Ruler->rule by prosperous society
law->
strong state->stability

6. 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!

7. Key Legalist Concepts IV:
The Concept of Methods
The Concept of Methods
“Methods” were key to the construction and
maintenance of a stable, powerful monarchy
Only ruler should use Methods
Different from law; intended to govern ONLY the
relations between kings and their minsters
Goal is to keep royal court off balance to preserve
the power of the ruler

8. The Ch’in Dynasty
The Legalists’ dreams and
nightmares were realized when in
221BC China was unified under the
Ch’in Dynasty as the result of
putting Legalist ideas into practice.

9. Why was Shih Huang Ti a great ruler?
Shih Huang Ti brought order
to China as he standardized,
centralized, and unified
China.
Standardization
Centralization
Unification