The idea of society as a community with a set hierarchy and philosophy is thousand years old, dating back to the primitive life. As a result, philosophers started pondering over the concepts of life and reality quite a while ago, making the issue quite contentions. Although there seems to be little agreement on the definition of society in the works of Plato, Confucius, and Han Fei, the general consensus regarding viewing society as a notion that existed and was grounded in real-life interactions remains prevalent.
He approaches to defining society are quite dissimilar in each case. For Plato, the notion of society boils down to the concept of justice in relationships between citizens and the assignment of specific social roles and responsibilities to them. The specified approach to determining society is quite broad, yet it clearly indicates that Plato believed in the existence of society. Particularly, Plato linked society to the idea of justice: “Justice is the order of the State, and the State is the visible embodiment of justice under the conditions of human society” (9). Therefore, though Plato did not define society directly, his concept of its laws defining the state as a hierarchal relationship were evident in his writing, therefore, making it clear that Plato viewed regulations as the glue that could keep society together..
Similarly, Confucius believed that society existed and represented an orderly system where specific virtues and a rigid hierarchy with the focus on the idea of respecting elders. Specifically, Confucius’ opinion on society can be interpreted as a hierarchal system where ethical principles guide people’s decisions and relationships. Moreover, the focus on learning as a vital part of social development is often regarded as Confucius’ understanding of society (Confucius Book 12). Therefore, Confucius’s vision of society implied that it was grounded in strong moral values (Confucius Book 12). Finally, Han Fei Tzu’s vision of society involved the concept of change and the power of a ruler at the helm of the country.
Perceiving society as a highly malleable concept, Han Fei approached the notion of society being nonexistent the closest, yet his perspective still seemed to revolve around society as a concept that could still be a part of reality and, therefore, represent the product of relationships and interactions between citizens (Watson 46). Specifically, Han Fei’s work focuses primary on the idea of humanism in relationships between people (Watson 46). However, the concept of society in Han Fei’s understanding does not go further the notions of order and law (Watson 47). Thus, in Han Fei’s perception of society, these were people that held it together.
Despite the disagreements in their definitions of society, Plato, Confucius, and Han Fei still introduce fascinating perspectives on defining society and supporting the idea of its existence. Specifically, even though Han Fei’s interpretation of the subject matter could be seen as vague, he doubtlessly believed that society was a part of reality. Therefore, the concept of society as a real-life phenomenon can be seen in the works of all three philosophers.
Works Cited
Confucius. The Analects. Translated by Annping Chin, Penguin Random House, 2014.
Plato. The Republic. Translated by B. Jowett, Oxford University Press, 1892.
Watson, Burton. Han Feizi: Basic Writings. Columbia University Press, 2003.