Ancient Foundations of East Asian Jurisprudence ― Confucianism, Legalism and Taoism ― 1)
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Shang Yang 商鞅 and Legalist 法家 Reform in the Ancient Chinese State of Qin 秦
SHANG YANG 商鞅 AND LEGALIST 法家 REFORM IN THE ANCIENT CHINESE STATE OF QIN 秦 Daniel HAITAS Abstract Legalism has played a major role in the history of the Chinese legal and governmental tradition. One of the major exponents and formulators of this school of thought in ancient times was Shang Yang, an official in the state of Qin. Shang Yang oversaw a program of law reform in Qin in such areas as criminal law and the economic life of the country which aimed to strengthen the power of the state. This can be said to have had long term consequences for both Chinese and world history, in that the strengthening and reorganization of Qin along the lines of Legalist principles helped lead to its gaining preeminence amongst the other states vying for influence in the Warring States period, ultimately leading to the unification of China under the rule of the Qin dynasty. Keywords: Shang Yang, Legalism, law reform, Qin state, criminal law, economic regulation. that would be known among the general population, which included a system of strict punishments to be 1. Introduction applied equally to all. Additionally, he implemented Throughout much of the history of the Chinese reforms that favoured agriculture at the expense of legal and governmental tradition, two different schools commerce. of thought have been portrayed as competing and This study particularly draws on the Book of Lord coexisting at the same time; these are the Legalists 法 Shang 商君書, the earliest surviving and foundational 1 家 and the Confucians 儒家 . Both sought to maintain text of the Legalist school whose authorship is 7 social order, yet differed in the primary methods attributed to Shang Yang . -
Chinese Civilization
Chinese Civilization PREHISTORY Sources for the earliest history Until recently we were dependent for the beginnings of Chinese history on the written Chinese tradition. According to these sources China's history began either about 4000 B.C. or about 2700 B.C. with a succession of wise emperors who "invented" the elements of a civilization, such as clothing, the preparation of food, marriage, and a state system; they instructed their people in these things, and so brought China, as early as in the third millennium B.C., to an astonishingly high cultural level. However, all we know of the origin of civilizations makes this of itself entirely improbable; no other civilization in the world originated in any such way. As time went on, Chinese historians found more and more to say about primeval times. All these narratives were collected in the great imperial history that appeared at the beginning of the Manchu epoch. That book was translated into French, and all the works written in Western languages until recent years on Chinese history and civilization have been based in the last resort on that translation. The Peking Man Man makes his appearance in the Far East at a time when remains in other parts of the world are very rare and are disputed. He appears as the so-called "Peking Man", whose bones were found in caves of Chou-k'ou-tien south of Peking. The Peking Man is vastly different from the men of today, and forms a special branch of the human race, closely allied to the Pithecanthropus of Java. -
Han Fei and the Han Feizi
Introduction: Han Fei and the Han Feizi Paul R. Goldin Han Fei 韓非 was the name of a proli fi c Chinese philosopher who (according to the scanty records available to us) was executed on trumped up charges in 233 B.C.E. Han Feizi 韓非子, meaning Master Han Fei , is the name of the book purported to contain his writings. In this volume, we distinguish rigorously between Han Fei (the man) and Han Feizi (the book) for two main reasons. First, the authenticity of the Han Feizi —or at least of parts of it—has long been doubted (the best studies remain Lundahl 1992 and Zheng Liangshu 1993 ) . This issue will be revisited below; for now, suffi ce to it to say that although the contributors to this volume accept the bulk of it as genuine, one cannot simply assume that Han Fei was the author of everything in the Han Feizi . Indeed, there is a memorial explic- itly attributed to Han Fei’s rival Li Si 李斯 (ca. 280–208 B.C.E.) in the pages of the Han Feizi ( Chen Qiyou 陳奇猷 2000 : 1.2.42–47); some scholars fear that other material in the text might also be the work of people other than Han Fei. Second, and no less importantly, even if Han Fei is responsible for the lion’s share of the extant Han Feizi , a reader must be careful not to identify the philosophy of Han Fei himself with the philosophy (or philosophies) advanced in the Han Feizi , as though these were necessarily the same thing. -
Han Feizi's Criticism of Confucianism and Its Implications for Virtue Ethics
JOURNAL OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY Journal of Moral Philosophy 5 (2008) 423–453 www.brill.nl/jmp Han Feizi’s Criticism of Confucianism and its Implications for Virtue Ethics * Eric L. Hutton Department of Philosophy, University of Utah, 215 S. Central Campus Drive, CTIHB, 4th fl oor, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA [email protected] Abstract Several scholars have recently proposed that Confucianism should be regarded as a form of virtue ethics. Th is view off ers new approaches to understanding not only Confucian thinkers, but also their critics within the Chinese tradition. For if Confucianism is a form of virtue ethics, we can then ask to what extent Chinese criticisms of it parallel criticisms launched against contemporary virtue ethics, and what lessons for virtue ethics in general might be gleaned from the challenges to Confucianism in particular. Th is paper undertakes such an exercise in examining Han Feizi, an early critic of Confucianism. Th e essay off ers a careful interpretation of the debate between Han Feizi and the Confucians and suggests that thinking through Han Feizi’s criticisms and the possible Confucian responses to them has a broader philosophical payoff , namely by highlighting a problem for current defenders of virtue ethics that has not been widely noticed, but deserves attention. Keywords Bernard Williams, Chinese philosophy, Confucianism, Han Feizi, Rosalind Hursthouse, virtue ethics Although Confucianism is now almost synonymous with Chinese culture, over the course of history it has also attracted many critics from among the Chinese themselves. Of these critics, one of the most interesting is Han Feizi (ca. -
Legal Theory Workshop UCLA School of Law Samuele Chilovi
Legal Theory Workshop UCLA School of Law Samuele Chilovi Postdoctoral Fellow Pompeu Fabra University “GROUNDING, EXPLANATION, AND LEGAL POSITIVISM” Thursday, October 15, 2020, 12:15-1:15 pm Via Zoom Draft, October 6, 2020. For UCLA Workshop. Please Don’t Cite Or Quote Without Permission. Grounding, Explanation, and Legal Positivism Samuele Chilovi & George Pavlakos 1. Introduction On recent prominent accounts, legal positivism and physicalism about the mind are viewed as making parallel claims about the metaphysical determinants or grounds of legal and mental facts respectively.1 On a first approximation, while physicalists claim that facts about consciousness, and mental phenomena more generally, are fully grounded in physical facts, positivists similarly maintain that facts about the content of the law (in a legal system, at a time) are fully grounded in descriptive social facts.2 Explanatory gap arguments have long played a central role in evaluating physicalist theories in the philosophy of mind, and as such have been widely discussed in the literature.3 Arguments of this kind typically move from a claim that an epistemic gap between physical and phenomenal facts implies a corresponding metaphysical gap, together with the claim that there is an epistemic gap between facts of these kinds, to the negation of physicalism. Such is the structure of, for instance, Chalmers’ (1996) conceivability argument, Levine’s (1983) intelligibility argument, and Jackson’s (1986) knowledge argument. Though less prominently than in the philosophy of mind, explanatory gap arguments have also played some role in legal philosophy. In this area, the most incisive and compelling use of an argument of this kind is constituted by Greenberg’s (2004, 2006a, 2006b) powerful attack on positivism. -
A Comparison Between Ancient Greek and Chinese Philosophy on Politics Qihan Long1, A
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 215 3rd International Conference on Modern Management, Education Technology, and Social Science (MMETSS 2018) A Comparison between Ancient Greek and Chinese Philosophy on Politics Qihan Long1, a 1 BA History, Royal Holloway University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX, England aemail Keywords: Ancient Greek philosophy, Chinese philosophy, Politics Abstract. Although being two opposite ends of the Eurasian continent, the Greek and Chinese philosophers in the period of 600 BC to 300 BC came with some similar cures for the government. Both Greek and Chinese philosophers emphasized the importance of harmony, virtue and music in politics. Furthermore, in regard to the differences between ancient Greek and ancient Chinese philosophies on politics, it is interesting to note that Aristotle described democracy as the most tolerable one of three perverted form of government. Despite the fact that ancient China never truly formed an aristocracy nor a constitutional political entity, the ideas of Western and Eastern philosophers resonated with each other and formed the brightest light in the human history. 1. Introduction From 600 BC to 300 BC, it was a golden age for philosophy. Ideas and thoughts were formed in different areas in the world. During this period, great philosophers appeared from Greece in the west to China in the east. In the west, the most prominent philosophers were Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, while in the east, the great philosophers, such as Lao Zi, Confucius and Han Fei accomplished their works in China. Most of the philosophers in that period addressed the ideal form of government and how to rule a state. -
Positivism and the Inseparability of Law and Morals
\\server05\productn\N\NYU\83-4\NYU403.txt unknown Seq: 1 25-SEP-08 12:20 POSITIVISM AND THE INSEPARABILITY OF LAW AND MORALS LESLIE GREEN* H.L.A. Hart made a famous claim that legal positivism somehow involves a “sepa- ration of law and morals.” This Article seeks to clarify and assess this claim, con- tending that Hart’s separability thesis should not be confused with the social thesis, the sources thesis, or a methodological thesis about jurisprudence. In contrast, Hart’s separability thesis denies the existence of any necessary conceptual connec- tions between law and morality. That thesis, however, is false: There are many necessary connections between law and morality, some of them conceptually signif- icant. Among them is an important negative connection: Law is, of its nature, morally fallible and morally risky. Lon Fuller emphasized what he called the “internal morality of law,” the “morality that makes law possible.” This Article argues that Hart’s most important message is that there is also an immorality that law makes possible. Law’s nature is seen not only in its internal virtues, in legality, but also in its internal vices, in legalism. INTRODUCTION H.L.A. Hart’s Holmes Lecture gave new expression to the old idea that legal systems comprise positive law only, a thesis usually labeled “legal positivism.” Hart did this in two ways. First, he disen- tangled the idea from the independent and distracting projects of the imperative theory of law, the analytic study of legal language, and non-cognitivist moral philosophies. Hart’s second move was to offer a fresh characterization of the thesis. -
China´S Cultural Fundamentals Behind Current Foreign Policy Journal Views: Heritage of Old Thinking Habits in Chinese Modern Thoughts
Lajčiak, M. (2017). China´s cultural fundamentals behind current foreign policy Journal views: Heritage of old thinking habits in Chinese modern thoughts. Journal of of International International Studies, 10(2), 9-27. doi:10.14254/2071-8330.2017/10-2/1 Studies © Foundation China´s cultural fundamentals behind of International current foreign policy views: Heritage of Studies, 2017 © CSR, 2017 old thinking habits in Chinese modern Scientific Papers thoughts Milan Lajčiak Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Republic of Korea Slovak Embassy in Seoul, South Korea Email: [email protected] Abstract. Different philosophical frameworks between China and the West found Received: December, 2016 their reflection in diverging concepts of managing relations with the outside 1st Revision: world. China focused more on circumstances, managing situation and preventing February, 2017 conflicts, the West was resolution oriented, aimed at fighting opponents and Accepted: March, 2017 looking for victory in conflicts. China has introduced the idea of harmony - hierarchy world, while the West, on the opposite, tends to freedom-conflict DOI: patterns of relations. On China’s side, thinking habits and old thought paradigms 10.14254/2071- of statecraft are until now deeply ingrained in mentality, thus shaping China´s 8330.2017/10-2/1 policy today. Understanding the background of Chinese traditional thinking modes and mind heritage helps better understanding of China´s rise in global affairs as well as of Sino-American relations as the key element in a search for global leadership. Keywords: China, West, thinking habits, foreign policy concepts, China rise, Sino- American relations. JEL Classification: F5, P5, Z1 1. -
Towards Classical Legal Positivism Dan Priel Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, [email protected]
Osgoode Hall Law School of York University Osgoode Digital Commons Research Papers, Working Papers, Conference Comparative Research in Law & Political Economy Papers Research Report No. 20/2011 Towards Classical Legal Positivism Dan Priel Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/clpe Recommended Citation Priel, Dan, "Towards Classical Legal Positivism" (2011). Comparative Research in Law & Political Economy. Research Paper No. 20/2011. http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/clpe/58 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Research Papers, Working Papers, Conference Papers at Osgoode Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Comparative Research in Law & Political Economy by an authorized administrator of Osgoode Digital Commons. ! ! ! !"#!!$%!&'(()('*)"+&!!(! !"#$%&%'()*+,*-*%&./+(0+1%2+3+4"5('(.%5+6."0"#7+ ) ,%"%',+&)-'-%,)"%,.%") "#$#%&'(!)%*#&!+,-!.00.122! Towards Classical Legal Positivism! Dan Priel ) ) IC65,&$:) -556)789:30450);!4<==15)&3>>)(3?)"@A==>B)C=6=0D=B)$/65@D=6)+=9E363D/F5)) ,54536@A)/0)(3?)301)-=>/D/@3>)%@=0=92G) H=A0)*I)+/=JJ/);K0/F564/D2)=J)+3>/J=60/3)3D),/F564/15G) (553005)L==D930);!4<==15)&3>>)(3?)"@A==>B)C=6=0D=B)-6=18@D/=0)%1/D=6G) ! ! ! ! ! ! Towards Classical Legal Positivism Dan Priel* Abstract. Open almost any textbook or jurisprudence and you will nd it beginning with a discussion of natural law and legal positivism. What sets them apart, we are told, is a di"erence on the conceptual question of the relationship between law and morality. Natural lawyers believe that law or legality are necessarily connected to morality, whereas legal positivists deny that. -
Demanding Philosophy from Legal Positivism: an Investigation Into the Argumentative Support for the Separation Thesis
Demanding Philosophy from Legal Positivism: An Investigation into the Argumentative Support for the Separation Thesis by Samuel Steadman A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M.A. Legal Studies Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario ©2011 Samuel Steadman Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawaONK1A0N4 OttawaONK1A0N4 Canada Canada Your We Votre inference ISBN: 978-0-494-81624-0 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-81624-0 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre im primes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. -
Law and Morality: a Kantian Perspective
Columbia Law School Scholarship Archive Faculty Scholarship Faculty Publications 1987 Law and Morality: A Kantian Perspective George P. Fletcher Columbia Law School, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/faculty_scholarship Part of the Jurisprudence Commons, and the Law and Philosophy Commons Recommended Citation George P. Fletcher, Law and Morality: A Kantian Perspective, 87 COLUM. L. REV. 533 (1987). Available at: https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/faculty_scholarship/1071 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty Publications at Scholarship Archive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Scholarship Archive. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LAW AND MORALITY: A KANTIAN PERSPECTIVE George P. Fletcher* The relationship between law and morality has emerged as the cen- tral question in the jurisprudential reflection of our time. Those who call themselves positivists hold with H.L.A. Hart' that calling a statute or a judicial decision "law" need not carry any implications about the morality of that statute or decision.2 Valid laws might be immoral or unjust. Those who resist this reduction of law to valid enactments sometimes argue, with Lon Fuller, that moral acceptability is a neces- sary condition for holding that a statute is law; 3 or, with Ronald Dworkin, that moral principles supplement valid enactments as compo- 4 nents of the law. Whether the positivists or their "moralist" opponents are right about the nature of law, all seem to agree about the nature of morality. We have to distinguish, it is commonly said, between conventional and critical morality. -
Wang Fu's “Qian Fu Theory” Inheriting and Developing Han Fei's Thought
2020 3rd International Workshop on Advances in Social Sciences (IWASS 2020) Wang Fu's “Qian Fu Theory” Inheriting and Developing Han Fei's Thought Chen Lin, Ma Shinian* Lanzhou, Northwest Normal University, 730010, China *Corresponding Author Keywords: Han fei, Wang fu, Ideological inheritance, Ideological development Abstract: Han Fei is a master of legalist thought, and Wang Fu is one of the most representative thinkers in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Because of the great similarity of the characteristics of the times they lived in, Wang Fu absorbed Han Fei's thoughts of rule of law and the art of governing the officials in order to save the country and the people, enrich the country and strengthen the army, and directly inherited and integrated them into his Confucianism based ideological system. At the same time, it can be seen that in terms of the theory of human nature, the shaping of human nature advocated by Wang Fu is a development of Han Fei's view of human nature seeking benefits and avoiding disadvantages. In the aspect of national education, the combination of morality and punishment is the development of Han Fei's teaching by law. On the economic front, 100 businesses were originally the development of Korea's non-agricultural business philosophy. 1. Introduction Wang Fu is one of the most representative Confucian scholars in the Eastern Han Dynasty. However, Wang Jipei, a scholar in the Qing Dynasty, pointed out: “He learned to compromise confucius, but he also dabbled in the name of Shen Shang, Hanfei, and did not become a pure confucius.” It can be found by carefully reading the text of Qian Fu theory that words such as “law”, “punishment”, “reward” and “punishment” appear frequently, while Wang continues to cultivate and annotate “Qian Fu theory”, citing the secondary data of Han Feizi, Mr.