Confucianism, Taoism, and
Legalism
Confucianism
551 – 479 B.C.E.
Lived during the time of Buddha
in India.
Became a teacher & book
editor, not a religious leader.
Stressed personal virtue,
moderation, wisdom and
respect as the keys to peace
and harmony
Major Confucian Principals
• Cultural traditions and rituals will restore balance and order to
society.
• Humanity, goodwill, reciprocity, empathy, and righteousness.
• Education is the key to social order. Everyone has the right to
get an education.
• Filial Piety (respect your elders!)
The Analects – “Conversation”
Single most important Confucian text
• Knowing what he knows and what he doesn’t know, is
characteristic of the person who knows.
• Making a mistake and not correcting it, is
making another mistake.
• The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames
others.
• To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.
Social Relationships:
A Comparison
Hinduism - India
Confucianism - China
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Brahmin
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Shudra
Untouchable
Scholar-Gentry
Peasants
Artisans
Merchants
Soldiers
Imperial Nobility
Slaves
Confucius & the Han Dynasty
The Han Emperor saw the usefulness of Confucianism in
government, so:
– Schools were created to teach & test Confucian ideals.
– Only the best & brightest students were offered rich
government jobs as bureaucrats.
Legalism, the
Philosophy of Power
• Legalism stated that individuals
should obey a powerful authority
rather than exercise individual
freedom.
• The ruler, therefore, “cracks his
whip” on the backs of his
subjects!
Legalist Principals
1. Human nature is naturally selfish.
2. Intellectualism and literacy is discouraged.
3. Law is the supreme authority and replaces
morality.
4. The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing hand.
5. War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s power.
In a Legalist State…
• The army controls the government,
fighting to defend & expand borders.
• People farm to feed the population &
provide for the army to stay at war.
• Education is minimal, since brains
aren’t necessary to follow the rules.
• Those who follow rules well are
rewarded, and those that don’t are
punished (often tortured or executed).
Lao–Tzu is considered to be the
founder of Taoism.
Major Principals:
• Man is sad because he
lives within social laws &
traditions that are contrary
to the ways of nature.
“Let nature take its course.”
“The art of doing nothing.”
“Go with the flow!”
Taoism
• Tao (pronounced Dow) means The Way (to happiness).
• Taoism is a philosophy, a way of looking at life and a way of
thinking about things. It embraces China’s tradition of belief
in nature’s harmony and mystery.
• Taoists believe we need to understand our own inner nature.
To escape the “traps” of life, one must :
• Reject formal knowledge and learning.
• Rely on the senses and instincts.
• Discover the nature and “rhythm” of the universe.
• Ignore political and social laws.
Core Philosophies
• Confucians stress filial piety, tradition, education,
and the development of social relationships.
• Legalists emphasize strict laws and severe
punishments to teach people obedience to the
needs of government.
•
• Daoists will wonder what all the fuss is about,
since they prefer to avoid politics in their pursuit
of harmony with nature.
HW Activity #1
Using each of the 3 philosophies, respond to these
scenarios:
1. You know that you are failing a class. If your parents
find out, you will be in trouble. How do you handle
this situation?
2. A student has just found $20 in the hall. What should
they do?
3. A student sees an opportunity to take something
they have really wanted, without being caught. How
should that student act?
HW Activity #2
Ask an older family member one or more of the following questions.
Try to determine if their answers are more Taoist, Confucian, or
Legalist.
• If a homeless person looked you in the eye and asked for help, how
would you respond?
• If you witnessed a hit-and-run accident, what would you do?
• Finish this sentence: I believe that people are by their very nature
___________.
• Is education a requirement, or a right?