Conversation with a Doaist, a Confucian, and a Legalist
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The Zhou Period takes center stage in China. Where various of philosophers offered there insights into how humans should behave in regard to their families, the state, and nature (Andrea pg. 84). Known as the “Hundred Schools of Thought” the Zhou Period was also an intellectual time. Three of the philosophies spoken in this chapter had there own thoughts of an ideal government and state were the Daoist, the Confucian, and the Legalist.
The Confucian ideal government was promoted on harmony, moral effort and justice also known as the “Moral Way.” The Master stated: ” If you preside over them with dignity, they will be reverent: if you are filial (relating) and loving, they will be loyal: if you promote the good and instruct the incapable, they will be mutually encouraging (Andrea pg. 94).” They believed in devoting themselves to making the government work for the people (McKay pg. 95).
Unlike the Confucian the Daiost were different in every aspect. The Daiost were natural rebels. They had belief that striving to make things better would ultimately make them worst (McKay pg.95). The Daiost were limitless, having no legislation. The ideal government for the Daiost measured by having no legislation, having weapons for war with good tactics. They never worried about everyday problems, letting there minds be free (McKay pg. 95-6). He keep them without knowledge and without desire. To the people with knowledge he keep them from using it in everyday life (Andreas pg.87-8).
Over the years, as the states begin to get conquered, the theories of Legalism came to existence. The ideal government for Legalist was similar to the Confucians. Because of there emphasis on the need for rigorous laws , they argued that strong government depended not on the moral qualities, but establishing effective laws and procedures (McKay pg. 97). They also came up with a theory, “To govern the state by the law is to praise the right and blame the wrong (Andreas pg. 98). ”