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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
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    The Legalist observation of concealment and power accumul... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→The relationship between ruler and minister is fundamentally adversarial

    The Legalist observation of concealment and power accumulation describes pathological instances, not the logical structure of the ruler-minister relation.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Healthy ruler-minister relations in Confucian theory assume mutual trust and shared ethical commitment, making concealment unnecessary.
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    • 2.Legalist texts focus on worst-case scenarios to design institutions; this doesn't prove pathology is the normal operational mode.
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    • 3.Many historical dynasties functioned effectively without constant power games, suggesting concealment is contingent, not structural.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Legalist principles describe incentive structures that arise naturally from hierarchy itself, not exceptional failures of governance.
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    • 2.If ministers have no power to conceal and accumulate, the institutional design must restrict their autonomy—contradicting meritocratic ideals.
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    • 3.The ruler's suspicion described by Legalists emerges rationally from information asymmetry inherent to delegation, not pathology.
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    Social Contract1 linkedDemocracy & Governance1 linked

    Related

    Healthy ruler-minister relations in Confucian theory assume mutual trust and sha...If ministers have no power to conceal and accumulate, the institutional design m...Legalist principles describe incentive structures that arise naturally from hier...Legalist texts focus on worst-case scenarios to design institutions; this doesn'...
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    Many historical dynasties functioned effectively without constant power games, s...The relationship between ruler and minister is fundamentally adversarialThe ruler's suspicion described by Legalists emerges rationally from information...

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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