法家介绍英文版.docVIP

May 20th Unit Seven: Han Fei, Shang Yang and Legalism Group members: Cathy 080520090040 Eva 080520090037 Una 080520090036 Abby 080520090038 Ⅰ. Origin The early thought behind Legalism was first formed by?Han Fei Tzu?and was further developed by?Li Si?as a realist reform oriented philosophy meant to strengthen government and reinforce adherence to the law. Legalism fully emerged during the?Warring States Period, a critical point in ancient Chinese history. The Warring States Period and the preceding were marked by frequent violence and war, and many new philosophies were founded to cope with the environment of the time including,?Daoism,?Confucianism, and?Mohism. Some of the first adopters of Legalism were the statesman Shang Yang of the?. The Qin Dynasty would eventually conquer six other feudal states and create what is regarded as the first true Chinese Empire. Previously the army had been controlled by nobles and constituted of feudal?. Now generals could come from any part of society, provided they had sufficient skill. In addition, troops were highly trained and disciplined. From then on, Qin was taking its shape to become the most powerful state in China before it eventually brought all of the six other states together (,?,?,?,?, and Wei) under?. Ⅱ. The major thoughts of Legalism ①Legalists emphasized on the law, and opposed the Confucian “rites”. The laws supported by the Legalists were meant to support the state, the emperor, and his military. They were also?-oriented and innovative. In theory, the Legalists believed that if the punishments were heavy and the law equally applied, neither the powerful nor the weak would be able to escape from the control of state. The Legalists especially emphasized pragmatism over precedence and custom as the basis of law. ②Evaluation of human nature：Legalists think people have the nature such like” enjoy profits and hate harms or approach the good things and be away from the bad things