Legalism (Chinese philosophy)

Legalism was a Chinese philosophy that believed people should do whatever was necessary to keep a good ruler in power. This meant using laws and punishments to keep people in line. Legalism also taught that people are naturally selfish and bad, so they need laws and punishments to keep them from doing bad things. So, judges and other people in power were important in Legalism because they would make sure people obeyed the laws and punished people who didn't.