Schools of Thought
Mike Thiem 4/7/2013
Per. 5+6 Hum 9
Schools of Thought There were three major philosophies that existed in ancient Chinese times; Legalism, Daoism, and Confucianism. Each philosophy had different ways of thinking/beliefs that influenced their followers’ ways of life. Although these schools of thought may have been successful in ancient Chinese times, would they succeed in a democratic government in today’s society? One school of thought that would not flourish in today’s world is Legalism, founded by Han Feizi. Legalist ideas were built around the belief that only strict laws enforced by a powerful ruler would ensure order in society, and that “The ruler alone possesses power”. It is evident as to why these principles would not work in a democratic government because a democracy is a government by the people for the people, and no single being has total control. Han Feizi also believed that people act out of their own self-interest (One for all) and not to good examples (All for one). Although in today’s society we like to stick to the morals that you put the group over the individual, many people will still act out of greed and put themselves first. But our country would never prosper if everyone always acted out of just purely self-interest and be greedy all the time. The Legalist ideologies concerning self-interest completely contradicts the Confucians’, which is the one school of thought that could succeed in a democratic government in today’s society. Confucius, the founder of the Confucian school of thought, based most of his ideas on how to reinstate peace and “ensure harmony” in a time filled with war and fighting. The principles he constructed in ancient Chinese times could also succeed in a
Per. 5+6 Hum 9
Schools of Thought There were three major philosophies that existed in ancient Chinese times; Legalism, Daoism, and Confucianism. Each philosophy had different ways of thinking/beliefs that influenced their followers’ ways of life. Although these schools of thought may have been successful in ancient Chinese times, would they succeed in a democratic government in today’s society? One school of thought that would not flourish in today’s world is Legalism, founded by Han Feizi. Legalist ideas were built around the belief that only strict laws enforced by a powerful ruler would ensure order in society, and that “The ruler alone possesses power”. It is evident as to why these principles would not work in a democratic government because a democracy is a government by the people for the people, and no single being has total control. Han Feizi also believed that people act out of their own self-interest (One for all) and not to good examples (All for one). Although in today’s society we like to stick to the morals that you put the group over the individual, many people will still act out of greed and put themselves first. But our country would never prosper if everyone always acted out of just purely self-interest and be greedy all the time. The Legalist ideologies concerning self-interest completely contradicts the Confucians’, which is the one school of thought that could succeed in a democratic government in today’s society. Confucius, the founder of the Confucian school of thought, based most of his ideas on how to reinstate peace and “ensure harmony” in a time filled with war and fighting. The principles he constructed in ancient Chinese times could also succeed in a