Confucianism And Legalism Essay

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Amongst the pandemonium of relentless sparring and political unpredictability of the Shang and Zhou era, various intellectual thinkers ascended and conveyed such insightful perspectives in the fields of religion, politics and philosophy; the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life. During Chinas rise to Empire, Chinese Philosophers like Kongfuzi, or Confucius, Mencius, and Han Fei implemented two prestige philosophies Confucianism and Legalism. Although Confucianism and Legalism approaches bare a couple of distinct similarities, the differences between the philosophies are significantly evident.
The first difference between Confucianism and Legalism is they have completely different beliefs. Based off the teachings of Confucius the Confucianism beliefs were established. The main focus of Confucianism is to instil how to live a harmonious life and adapt socially. Knowledge, humaneness, integrity, righteousness or justice, and etiquette or propriety are the five core virtues that arose from the teachings of Confucianism. The virtues are further instilled in filial piety, contingency, loyalty, and righteousness. Confucianism also communicates that relationships and family are top priorities within one’s lifetime. In contrast to Confucianism, Legalism is a pragmatic political philosophy, and believed using a system of rewards for good citizenship "set clear strict laws, or deliver harsh punishment" for law-breaking citizens, and its essential principle is one of jurisprudence. They believed that human nature is inherently bad, which is why strict laws were needed to keep people under control. This belief about human nature justified dictatorships and authoritarian rulers, which often led to corruption in ...

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...he Chinese civilization in to a successful empire.
In China from ca. 770 B.C.E. – 220 C.C, two magnificent philosophies were introduced to the Chinese civilization. Although Confucianism and Legalism philosophy approaches bare a couple of distinct similarities, the differences between the philosophies are significantly evident. Since we have examined the similarities and differences between Confucianism and Legalism. It’s clear that Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system that is normally considered one of the world’s religion. Legalism is a political philosophy that does not address higher questions pertaining to the nature and purpose of existence. Just strict and harsh punishments. Even in our modern day these philosophies are still being practices in the Chinese culture. “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”- Confucius

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