HPC 51. Standard Bearers: What is “Legalism"?

History of Philosophy in India by Peter Adamson, Jonardon Ganeri, Chike Jeffers

Apr 12, 202621:11Education

The “fa-thinkers” Shang Yang and Han Feizi encourage the rigorous application of “standards,” including law, reward, and punishment.

Related Episodes

Continue listening to more episodes from History of Philosophy in India.

Aug 1, 2026 - 19:04

How historians like Sima Qian and Ban Gu have shaped our understanding of ancient Chinese history, includ...

Jul 19, 2026 - 18:53

How were the texts of the Han dynasty different from those in the Warring States period? How historical c...

Jul 5, 2026 - 18:11

The relationship between philosophy and politics in the Han Dynasty, focusing on the example of Huang-Lao...

Jun 21, 2026 - 33:45

An interview about fa-thinkers like Shang Yang and Han Feizi, exploring their relationship to the Qin dyn...

Jun 7, 2026 - 20:44

Did the fa-thinkers recognize that human beings natural have moral capacities or dispositions? How did th...

May 24, 2026 - 19:42

Does Han Feizi’s focus on “standards” allow him to provide a more realistic political theory than the Con...

May 10, 2026 - 22:51

The Han Feizi and its “three pillars” of Legalist philosophy: fa (standards), shu (strategy), and shi (po...

Apr 26, 2026 - 18:07

Was the short-lived Qin empire, which unified China to put an end to the Warring States period, Legalism...