Socio-Political

Chinese Philosophy Metaphysics (Dao) Ethics

Philosophy
 “Dao is that by  “To be a successful  “Human society is
which all things ruler, one has to an interlocked
become what they understand the network of profits
are. It is that which people’s and interests.”
all principles are preferences and  “Humans are the
commensurable.” distastes and products of their
 “Principles are manipulative them socio-economic
patterns according successfully to one’s environment.”
to which all things advantage.”  It is in the nature of
come into being.”  “The enlightened people to despise
 Principle of ruler sets up what hard work and
Discernibility – people dread to prefer leisure.
”Everything has its prohibit their Therefore it is the
own principle, which misconduct; he government’s task
separates one thing devises what they to create an
from another.” detest to prevent effective system
 “The eternal Dao evil doing.” that will motivate
needs particular  The common people people to work
principles to realize should obedient and hard.
itself; hence, there is lawful.  Public interest and
no metaphysically  “When a sage private interest are
dangling Dao governs a state, he opposed to each
Legalism (Han Fei Tzu) persisting above the does not wait for other.
existing world. people to be good in  “Only laws and
Nevertheless, even if deference to him. punishment could
all particular things Instead he creates a effectively prevent
disintegrate and all situation in which socially disruptive
principles lose their people find it behaviour of the
material grounds, impossible to do masses. Humans
Dao will persist wrong.” have a universal
beyond time.”  “The sage does not aversion to harm;
 For Han Fei Tzu the work on his virtue, therefore the way
Dao includes every he works on his to effectively
particular principles laws.” control them is to
and it cannot be  Appealing to law employ rewards
identified with any and penalty is the that would greatly
single principle, thus right way to enforce benefit people and
it cannot be bound any policy. punishments that
by space and time.  “A ruler makes use would severely
of the majority and harm people.”
neglects the  “Law and authority
minority and so he are the only means
does not devote of social control
himself to virtue but that will guarantee
to law.” success.”
 “A ruler should  Rewards and
appeal to punishment is
punishment and indispensable in
reward.” social control.
 The ruler must  “The goal of law and
watch closely those punishment is social
who will benefit order.”
from his death.  Politics is separate
 He/she must from morality.
employ statecraft in Therefore it is
dealing with his amoral.
family and  “When times have
ministers. changed laws and
 The ruler must be practices must also
discreet especially in change.”
his use of statescraft  “The law,
on those close to impersonal,
him. enduring,
 Appoint official immanent, yet
based on their capable of
abilities and modification,
demand that their should be the
actions should framework of
correspond to their civil/political order.”
titles/positions.  Law and not moral
 The ruler should be training is required
in charge of rewards to govern the
and punishments. people.
 There should be a  Absolute control is
correspondence the ultimate aim of
between actuality rulership.
and name.  “Aims to establish
 The ruler should be absolute control for
like the Dao that the ruler.”
follows the principle  Law is a set of codes
of non-action (wu- of conduct that also
wei). includes specific
 The ruler functions penal codes and is
as an overseer. published and
 “Ministers devise promulgated. It also
the law and execute controls society and
it, while the people regulates its
understand and citizens.
obey the law.”  In rulership one
 must employ three
things: law (fa),
statecraft (shu), and
 political clout (shi).
