What kind of disposition do people have in nature? This disposition influenced his thoughts and actions. Everyone in the group, whether the thoughts and actions are good or bad, directly or indirectly affect the security of the country.
Han Feizi grew up in the late Warring States period of strife and turmoil, in order to save the fragile Korea, enthusiastically explore the solution to the problems of the times, he is like a doctor diagnosing patients, diagnosing the crux of the ills of the times, is people's innate self-interest psychology.
Is human nature good? Is it evil? Mencius said that sex is good, but he does not deny that people are affected by the acquired environment and human relations, and there is a possibility of drowning, so it is necessary to cultivate good nature and restrain desires. If we inquire, why is it affected by some kind of influence that makes us addicted to change?
Han Feizi believes that it is the psychology of self-interest.
Xunzi talked about sexual evil, because of this theory, Xunzi was misunderstood and snubbed for more than two thousand years. However, we must understand that when Xunzi speaks of "sex", he really only refers to all kinds of desires. For the sake of all kinds of desires, people inevitably compete and hurt each other, so Xunzi should advocate the power of human etiquette and righteousness, so that people can restrain their desires and correct their deviant behavior.
Xun Zi's idea of ritual rule is based on his ability to recognize people's etiquette and righteousness, which can change people's innate desires and maintain the order of social stability. Han Feizi was a student of Xunzi, and he said it more concretely and concretely, that is: human nature is self-interested. People always plan for themselves, and they will do whatever is good for themselves, and avoid what is harmful to themselves. What Xun Zi said about "good profit and evil" is actually self-planning!
Scholars in our country have always kept a secret of "profit", and it seems that when they talk about profit, they are very despicable and damage their glorious personality. In fact, which person does not do things to measure gains and losses, seek advantages and avoid harms?
In the modern concept of democracy, talking about power must also talk about profit, and the rights of the people are the major premise that must first be taken into account in the administrative measures of democratic countries; in the international community, the rights and interests of the state cannot be ignored, and the common interests of the country should be fought for by the whole people in unison. So, what's wrong with talking about profit?
According to the actual situation, since the psychology of self-interest and self-intention is universal, affecting people's views on things and also affecting people's behavior, it is a problem that governance cannot but pay attention to. Han Feizi is proactive and advocates facing reality and seeking solutions to problems that are relevant.
He did not deny that people have goodness, but he believed that the environment at that time was not as simple as in ancient times, and under the competition, people's inherent self-interest and inferiority were fully revealed, and very few people could truly self-discipline and be content.
The political theory of the Legalists, on the other hand, has always been aimed at the broad masses of the people and emphasizes universal and absolute results, so they hold that we should not hope that everyone will be good, and that we can solve problems by virtue alone; instead, we should face up to the crux of human nature's self-interest, take advantage of the situation, and study a thorough and prudent strategy. Under the premise of the country's common interests, if everyone can benefit from each other, then how can it not be a fairly ideal happy environment? Han Feizi's whole set of theories of governing the country was thus derived from the viewpoint of human nature and self-interest.
The eels are slippery, like cold, eerie snakes, and silkworms are soft and gray, like stinky slugs that love to eat orange grapefruit leaves. When people saw a snake, they were frightened and afraid; when they saw a snake, they stood upright and got goosebumps. But the fishermen hold the eels in their hands, and the peasant women pick up silkworms. Wherever there is interest, people will forget their dislikes and will bravely go forward, just like the ancient warrior Meng Ben and Zhu Zhu! ("The Inner Reserve Says")
【Analysis】
Guan Zhong once told Qi Huangong that people make a difference, either believing that doing so can gain reputation, or that there are certain benefits to doing so. It is also common to quote the saying: "Man dies for money, and birds die for food." "Among the broad masses of people, for some kind of benefit, forgetting their own dangers, and moving forward courageously, you can see it everywhere.
Han Fei said: "Farming is very hard, but the people are willing to do this, they think, they can be rich in the future; war is very dangerous, but the people are willing to do this, they are thinking, they can be noble in the future." "Farming and war is an important project for the country to become rich and strong, to reward farming war, based on the understanding of human self-interest, Han Feizi believes that the welfare of farmers and soldiers should be strengthened.
Wu Zixu fled from the Chu state to the Wu state, and he was captured by the guards waiting on the border. Wu Zixu was anxious to get out, so he told the guards solemnly: "The king wants to arrest me because I have a very beautiful and precious jewel." Now that I have lost it, when the time comes I will tell the king, you took the pearl and swallowed it into your stomach. The guards then hurriedly released Wu Zixu. ("Speaking on the Forest")
In order to compete with his son for the beautiful woman of the Qin Kingdom as his wife, King Chuping used the excuse to kill Wu Zixu's father Wu Hao and his brother Wu Shang, although it was a wrongful imprisonment, but at that time, king ChuPing offered a reward for wanted him, he was a wanted criminal, and the guards must have a heavy reward for arresting him. However, if he was suspected of swallowing pearls and the autocratic emperor Cao Suan was accustomed to human life, the king of Chu was bound to dissect his stomach, and he had to die. The "self-interested" heart made the scout (guard) release Wu Zixu, who was able to save his life with his wit, which can be said to be good at exploiting the weakness of human self-interest.
A Weiguo man married his daughter and warned her: "After arriving at the in-laws' house, we must try to save more private money privately." It is common to get married, to be a wife, and to be sent back to her mother's house, and it is lucky to be able to stay with her husband. ”
After his daughter married, she really secretly stored private money according to her father's instructions. Her mother-in-law thought that her selfishness as a daughter-in-law was too heavy, so she sent her back to her mother's house. The daughter brought back to her mother's family several times more than the dowry of that year. The Defender did not think there was anything wrong with teaching his daughter to save money for herself, but only knew that she was richer than in the past. Now the general officials are all of this type! ("Speaking on the Forest")
The father-daughter pair of Wei Guo is a typical example of money worship in a chaotic world, and in order to save money for private money, the father would rather ruin the happiness of his daughter's life. Han Feizi believes that some contemporary officials are often dismissed because of corruption, and the situation is similar to that of the Wei people, and there is also a reason for people who are reassuring!
-end-
Han Feizi: Chinese version of monarchy ¥79.7 purchase
Han Feizi: The Order of the State
Author: Zhang Suzhen Compiled
Publisher: Kyushu Publishing Co., Ltd.
Introduction:
"Han Feizi" is a political science classic, a collection of legal scholars in the Warring States period, and a practical political book to save the survival of the people. Based on the ideal of imperial politics, it emphasizes the political control of the combination of law, technology, and potential. Its words are gorgeous, sharp and smooth, the structure is rigorous, the analysis is thorough, the discussion is incisive, and it has been a study template that readers love since ancient times.