Compare And Contrast Shang Yang And Legalism

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Legalism was a very totalitarian system of government in which the ruler had absolute power over his peoples. In theory, of course there were rewards for those who carried out their duties well. However, in practice, legalists stressed punishment more. Shang Yang was a supporter of Legalism, who believed in forcing citizens to report lawbreakers. He went so far as to say that those who did not report lawbreakers ought to be executed!Legalists abhorred complaints or questions about the government and its policies, and enjoyed arresting those who did complain or question, even burning books with opposing philosophies, if the need arose. This need did arise multiple times because the strict legal system required absolute control over the minds