한비자의 직업사상

Abstract

Born in one of the weak states, Han, during the later Warring states period, Han Fei-Tzu sought strategies of national prosperity and military power to survive the war. His strategies were effective because they were concrete as well as suited the needs of the time. Even today, where circumstances are different, there remains a lot to learn from Han Fei-Tzu’s analysis of situation and his political measures. This thesis reinterprets the principles and strategies that HanFei-Tzu developd in order to survive the struggle and make the nation prosper, with focus on the modernized keywords of economic success and occupation. Han Fei-Tzu’s understanding of reality is objective and levelheaded. He perceives human as beings naturally inclined to pursue their interest, and analyzes all relations in terms of interest. He argues that since the society and history changes constantly and situations—including modes of life, economic structure, and social problems—differ, ways of management should vary accordingly. In order to survive the reality, which was an intense struggle for existence during the war, he emphasizes the rigorous application of the law that employs the method of reward and punishment revolving around the centralized aim of reinforcing national power. A nation can prosper when its members perform their roles properly in their positions. Thus, Han Fei-Tzu asserts that every occupation of the nation must be distributed in proportion to each member’s capability. He also insists on the principle of reward and punishment that accompanies strict assessment of the achievements in one’s duty. The core of Han Fei-Tzu’s government by law lies in the strategy of making the nation prosper by implementing a stable system that rewards individuals who contributes to the nation—making the private interest coincide with the national prosperity. Han Fei-Tzu emphasized the strict separation of the public and the private and the rigorous application of law as necessary means for individuals and the society to prosper while maintaining order. Reinforcing monarchy and excluding all private elements in the application of law seems heartless; however, Han Fei-Tzu believed that it benefits the people as well as provides security for them. Han Fei-Tzu’s government by law remains a significant model in that he proposed a clear vision of the stable State in which individuals can achieve contribution through their occupation that also realizes the meaning and value of their lives.