Tuesday, October 6, 2009

blog 4: Chinese Philosaphys

Legalism Vs Mohism in maintaining order


The disciplines of Legalisim and Mohisim have both, similar and divergent views, however in my opinion Legalisim is the better one when maintaining order. In principle Mohism has the potential to maintain proper order, Mohism wants the greater power not to oppress the weaker (i.e. "Great states at taking the small, strong oppressing the weak, and the cunning deceiving the stupid") The religion states that, "these are harmful to the world". Mohism deffinatly has the basis to keep order, but i think Legalisim take it the next step and executes (the people as well).

Legalism was a strong, central, and simple discipline. The fathers of legalisim, Shang Yang and Hun Fi ZI laid out clearly in their works how to maintain a strong, orderly state. "Gov. based on the assumption that people are essentially good will lead to chaos and dismemberment, Gov. based on assumption that people are especially bad bad will lead to order and strength," this is one point that Legalisim makes, that people are need to be thought of as bad to keep them in check. Legalisim was simple because it stressed two major imperatives to a state, agriculture and war. The religion, which was one of the main two that had direct influence on governments stressed having a strong ruler that kept to himself, and made disitions for the people, leaning to a dictatorship.

They contrast over how to think of people, one going with trust, the second with harsh rules to tell you just don't do it. legalisim wants to press strength and war, while the mohists wants to just stay in defence. Both would like a disciplined authority, the legalist's more harsh and strict. The Mohists are open-minded, while legalisim wants people to be a little ignorant to everything but the state, agriculture, and war. through everything Legalisim is better to maintain order.

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