ILI-Q "Критик" Ω Omega

Han Fei

Political Philosopher · Chinese · 3rd c. BC

Warring States period Chinese philosopher (c. 280–233 BC). He synthesised Legalist thought in the Han Feizi, systematising the theory of ruler governance through "law, statecraft, and power." His work was deeply admired by King Zheng (later First Emperor of Qin) and became the theoretical foundation of the Qin unification. Imprisoned and poisoned by his former classmate Li Si — a paradigmatic case of the intellectual destroyed by the ruler he empowered.