Han Feizi on Human Nature

Abstract

Han Feizi’s understanding of human nature is far more complicated than the doctrine of evil human nature. He acknowledges that there is goodness in human nature, and it could render people to live peacefully in affluence. But in scarcity, the goodness in human nature becomes ineffective, and the pursuit of material profit becomes the main driver of human actions. While the majority can only calculate short-term material interests, the minority can do long-term planning. Besides, vanity, a unique quality of human, is a secondary driving force of human actions. Han Feizi acknowledges that only a handful of people can transcend the pursuit of material profit and vanity, and hold onto virtues instead. However, these people are the disruptors of a political regime, and should not be encouraged. Han Feizi argues that the avoidance of harm is a more powerful driving force, compared with the pursuit of profit, in which he emphasizes punishment rather than reward in regulating people’s behaviors.

Key words： human nature; profit and harm; honor and disgrace; heavy punishment less reward