Compare And Contrast Legalism And Confucianism

Confucius lived in a period of time, which featured in Chinese history of philosophy "Hundred Schools of Thought". It is a period of time in Chinese history that philosophers, thinkers and the schools they were identified with flourished from the 6th century to 221 B.C., the year when the State of Qin united China under the First Emperor of China. One hallmark of their teachings, which were markedly different from the teachings of their contemporaries in Ancient Greek, was manifested in the fact that they were all attempting to provide practical and applicable solutions to the social and political crises they all were confronted with. For example, legalists promoted strict application of the law, arguing that punishments should be severe and definite so that the people will fear them. Confucius took a diametrically opposite approach from the legalists. Confucianism is the tradition of thought and practice that is associated with Confucius and his followers, such as Mencius and Xunzi. Confucius never saw himself as a social innovator. Rather he considered himself a transmitter of traditional value and practices, with his own interpretations. Ancient Chinese tended to look toward the past a golden age, purer than present, as a font of ideas and traditions that

He placed significant emphasis on education and study, as they are an integral part of his vision of building a society of harmony and advocating the conduct and dispositions of "junzi". In order to become a junzi, one had to learn the ways of Confucius' teachings. It is through education that the people learn to follow "li" (behavioral and ritual propriety) and treat others with "ren" (humaneness). He often contrasted the behaviors of a superior man and a petty person in his conversations with his disciples. "The noble person is inclusive, not exclusive; the petty person is exclusive, not inclusive. (The Analects