In Chapter 4, I found very interesting all the thinkers and
philosopher of the second-wave era. Due
to all the conflict and violence in China, many Chinese thinkers were born.
Legalism was based on a system of rewards and punishment. Han Fei a Legalist philosopher
said “If rewards are high, then what the ruler wants will be quickly effected;
if punishment are heavy, what the he does not want will be swiftly
prevented”. To Legalist, most people
were considered useless and only the state and rulers were important. It is no
surprise that Legalism was discredited soon enough and never openly accepted as
a way of life.
Unlike Legalism, Confucianism did not believe in laws and
punishments. It was based on the moral
example of superiors. Confucius believed that respect to higher family or
superiors were the key to restore order.
If one saw their parent doing good things then the child will follow in
the same effect. Confucius said, “ The relation between superiors and inferiors
is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend when the wind
blows across it”. This quote really
embodies the essence of Confucius and his teachings.
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