Introduction
The two were critical thinkers of rulers during the eastern Zhou dynasty. The reign of this dynasty was in 771 BC after the death of the western dynasty. Confucius was highly critical of the kings that were leading in that time. He constantly bombarded them with policies that he wished would be adopted in ruling the people of the dynasty.
Most of the time, the king turned him away. When he realized that the administration was not heeding to his advice, he went ahead to tour the world and convince other kings to follow his ways. None of the leaders listened to him and later he returned to china’s eastern Zhou dynasty. Even after returning, the kings did no heed to the advice.
Han Fei developed his thoughts, Han Feizi, during that time. The thoughts bear his name for recognition. Han Fei was a member of a royal setting. He lived during a time when leaders had adopted so much Confucianism in their policies.
He was highly critical of that leadership, and even attributed it to the warring states war of 475-221 BC. Apart from the fact that he said Confucianism was responsible for the wars that were beleaguering the country; he also was extremely critical of morals and societal rotting that he witnessed. He also had ways that he wanted the kings to govern: the kings ignored it.
Confucius: Attitudes, Philosophies and Ideas
Confucius was a great entrepreneur and was also a formidable force to reckon with on the political scene. He served in the Zhou dynasty for four years. He was later dismissed for he presented policies that were in contravention with the kings. He is renowned as the greatest educationalist in china and his ideas were followed and studied by many students in his time. On matters concerning politics, he was a fervent adherer to integrity and good morals.
He was against the wars that beleaguering the administration during that time. Therefore, he was an ambassador for peace and his kings, on the other hand, were advocates for war. In his teachings and his advice to the leadership of the dynasty, it is widely noted that human beings were the focal point of his attention. He always wanted good relationships to be formed among people. He also wanted the leadership to be responsible for their actions and inactions.
On the issue of development, he was categorical that it is morally bad to grow on that frontier and ignore other frontiers like cultural growth. He solidly believed that both should be seen to mature together as they are intertwined. At some point, he believed, the two will need each other and hence it would be best to grow simultaneously rather than individually. He ideally believed that the world is made in such a way that all should be in harmony.
Therefore, in his advocacy for this, he taught people to be kind, not only to their fellow human beings, but also to animals, plantations and all that existed within and around them. Han Fei believed there was no need to uphold things that were cultural and ritualistic. These two were largely mentioned by Confucius which puts him in sharp contrast with Confucianism. During his time, the cultural state of china was greatly respected and people associated with their culture.
Han Feizi: Attitudes, Philosophies and Ideas
Han Fei died as a young man. He took poison in prison where he was held by the king for contravening his leadership. Before he died, the kind had realized his mistake and wanted to pardon him. Initially, he had been taken in by the king after the king noted his brilliant writings concerning leadership. Though the king was later advised by his aides that Han Fei was a bad man, he had confidence in him at first.
He had workable ideas concerning leadership. He advocated for rules and regulations and laws. The law of a country, Han Fei believed, was the main determinant of her strength or perceived weakness. Countries that upheld law were strong and those that did not were weak. The people in the country should be seen to have strict adherence to the regulations and laws that govern them.
When the public is content with the legalism of a nation, the country, Han Fei wrote, grows on many frontiers including economic, political and social. When a country lacks in legalism, it crumbles on those frontiers and institutions are not respected. There is also public grief towards leadership which may cause havoc.
He also pegged the security of a nation, on a number of areas, to how lawful it was. He said that countries where the private sector is regulated and correctly subdued, there was notable growth. However, if the private sector was rogue and uncontrollable, the country loses meaning and many of its institutions crumble. He also applied this to external threats saying that any country, whose internal legal system was credible, appeared to be strong to its enemies. The reverse is true for any country whose internal legal systems are weak.
In governing a country, Han Fei said it was important to have morals but they did not supersede the need for regulation. Regulation was the basis from which morality was born according to Han Fei. This is in sharp contrast with Confucianism and hence the reason why Han Fei was critical of leaders who employed during his time.
He also seemed to have a soft spot for leadership. He said that it was important for a leader to enjoy legal freedom so as to be able to govern. However, Confucius was of the opinion that leadership should be the initial demonstrators of good morals and hence punished first in case they contravened the same. In Han Fei’s opinion, this served the purpose of weakening them. During his time, there was little, or dwindling, regard for cultural ways of the Chinese.
Han Fei also said that commendation was very important. Leaders should employ it and use often to motivate its delegations. When a minister does something good he should praised and honored. On the contrary, Han Fei said this should go hand in hand with chastisements.
Ministers who violate the king’s orders should be reprimanded and possible relieved of his duties. However, his idea for chastisement was highly controversial. This includes torture, death and imprisonment. Commendation is in form of rewards, gifts and accolades. This style of leadership was very common soon after the death of Han Fei. The kings that ruled thereafter were very happy since they could easily pass on their helm to their family putting into consideration Han Fei’s easy ride to it.
Opinion on Cause of Violence and How to Resolve Conflict
On many instances, it is noted that Han Fei and Confucius were on the same page on some issues. They agreed on government presence, but differed on structure. During their time there was violence and they developed different reasons that the violence was there. Han Fei attributed it to Confucianism saying it was wrong to think that it would help governments. He advocated for strict adherences to law with leaders having absolute power.
This manner of resolving conflict worked although it led to oppression of the people. In modern times, it is attributable to the dictatorships that followed. However, as radical as were the advocacies, the authoritarianism of dictators is no longer a recommended way of governing a people in the current world.
Confucius advocated for a harmonious living between people. The power he said was in the people. Everyone, including the leaders was under the umbrella of proper morals which he said was the linen from which the peace of the country was to be made. He advocated for utmost integrity.
This is still practiced in china and all over the world. Confucianism is a great way to govern people as it recognizes their rights. It does not oppress any one like is the case in Han Feizi. Leaders are held accountable for their actions and there is no absolute power. It also encompasses even the most recent concerns of our times like environment. Confucius advised people to live harmoniously with everything that were at their disposal, including objects.