WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Legalism is based on the viewpoint that in order for a ruler to maintain order in society, people must obey a set of strict laws and those in authority (the rulers and government officials). Legalist philosophers thus created a system of punishment and reward for certain behaviors.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Legalists believed that government could only become a science if rulers were not deceived by pious, impossible ideals such as “tradition” and “humanity.” In the view of the Legalists, attempts to improve the human situation by noble example, education, and ethical precepts were useless.

Detailed explanation-3: -Legalism in ancient China was a philosophical belief that human beings are more inclined to do wrong than right because they are motivated entirely by self-interest and require strict laws to control their impulses. It was developed by the philosopher Han Feizi (l. c. 280-233 BCE) of the state of Qin.

Detailed explanation-4: -le·gal·ism ˈlē-gə-ˌli-zəm. : strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code.

Detailed explanation-5: -In Christian theology, legalism (or nomism) is a pejorative term applied to the idea that “by doing good works or by obeying the law, a person earns and merits salvation."