Differences and integration of political thought between ancient Chinese Confucianism and legalism

Confucianism and Legalism are not only the two most influential ideological schools in pre-Qin China but also the main schools of thought in ancient Chinese intellectual history. This is due to their respective social nature and contrasting political values. In Pre-Qin Confucianism, rooted in the be...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Liu, Dongwang
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repositorio:Trans/Form/Ação (Online)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.www2.marilia.unesp.br:article/14845
Acceso en línea:https://revistas.marilia.unesp.br/index.php/transformacao/article/view/14845
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Political philosophy
Confucianism
Legalism
Integration of Confucianism and Legalism
Filosofia politica
Confucionismo
Legalismo
Integração do Confucionismo e Legalismo
Filosofía política
Confucianismo
Integración de confucianismo y legalismo
Descripción
Sumario:Confucianism and Legalism are not only the two most influential ideological schools in pre-Qin China but also the main schools of thought in ancient Chinese intellectual history. This is due to their respective social nature and contrasting political values. In Pre-Qin Confucianism, rooted in the belief in the innate goodness of human nature, there is a strong emphasis on the significance of historical traditions. It promotes values such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom, and seeks to redefine “Rite” by incorporating new values. It places great importance on the rule of virtue and aspires to achieve a state of Universal Harmony. Pre-Qin Legalism, driven by the inherent human inclination towards self-interest and personal gain, formulates a governance philosophy grounded in utilitarianism. It prioritizes the present and advocates for profound transformations through the implementation of strict “law” to attain national prosperity and military strength. As a result, ancient China formed different traditions of the rule of virtue and law, laying the foundation for the complementary nature of Confucianism and Legalism. This article analyzes the factors of differentiation and the process of integration in Confucian and legalist political philosophy, aiming to provide insights into the construction of contemporary political philosophical systems.