Han Feizi

Life and ideas

Han Feizi was a prince of the small state of Han and the most systematic of the Legalist thinkers. He studied with the Confucian Xunzi but drew the opposite conclusion about human nature: people follow their interests, so good government cannot rely on virtue. It needs clear laws (fa), the ruler's methods of controlling his officials (shu) and the authority of his position (shi). Rewards and punishments must be certain, public and equal for everyone, including the powerful, so that people can foresee the consequences of what they do. He wrote persuasive essays warning rulers about flattering ministers. His ideas were adopted by the state of Qin, which unified China in 221 BC. He is said to have died in Qin custody after a rival turned the ruler against him, and his writings were preserved in the book that bears his name.