legalism

""LETS GET DOWN TO BUSINESS"
 * __LEGALISM__**




 * Legalism** was founded by Han Feizi, who synthesized all Legalist ideas in China into a collection of essays, and Shang Yang, who was the chief minister of the Qin dynasty.

Qin Dynasty/Legalism- reddish orange China- yellow Great wall of China- brown wall
 * Map of Qin Dynasty 200 BCE**


 * Texts**: The Book of Lord Shang

---For example, if an infraction was not reported, entire families or communities could be punished with the actual violator.
 * Basic ideas**:
 * Practical and ruthlessly efficient approach to building a state
 * Legalists stressed punishment more than reward.
 * A highly efficient and powerful government is the key to social order.
 * Foundation of state's success is agriculture and military
 * Discouraged careers of merchants, entrepenueurs, and scholars
 * Strict legal regimen that outlines expectations and severe punishments even for minor crimes
 * Family must spy on each other in search of illegal actions
 * Believed that people in the same communites should report infractions of the law.
 * No concern with ethics, morality, and the governing of nature, strict legal regime
 * People were innately selfish and ignorant
 * Laws were to govern even the emperor. This kind of power over the emperor was unprecedented.


 * Critique:**
 * Chinese philosophers had little praise for Legalism.
 * Most enthusiastic response in the state of Qin
 * Both Han Feizi and Shang Yang were eventually sent to their deaths due to their strictness.
 * Legalism had the idea of strengthening the state with cultivation(farming) and military service, they need a vast amount of people involved these two assignments. Their harsh punishments and forcing people to labor were not popular among the citizens, which led to the decline of Qin few years after the unification.
 * Brought unification of China under Qin Dynasty.


 * Main Idea:**
 * Legalism was not a popular school of thought, but it did **__help unify China__**, and along with Confucianism, __**put an end to the Period of Warring States.**__

//Page edited by: Sarah Estryn,// //Erin Blakley, Justin Dutta, Rick Krogmann, Katie Tontodonato, Katy Reines, Christine Bernat//, Ross Baker, Sydney Zwixy, M3+J