▸ HEAD-TO-HEAD
HAN FEIZI VS HOBBES
Han Feizi
~280–233 BCE
What is is not what must be.
Hobbes
1588–1679
What is is not what must be.
▸ WHERE THEY SHARPLY DISAGREED
The three dimensions on which Han Feizi and Hobbes are farthest apart on Mull's 0–10 scale.
- Ascetic TendencyΔ 3 / 10Han Feizi: 6/10Hobbes: 3/10
somewhat (3/10): Han Feizi values restraint and ascetic discipline; Hobbes is less drawn to that path.
- Embodied SensibilityΔ 2 / 10Han Feizi: 3/10Hobbes: 5/10
somewhat (2/10): Hobbes trusts the body and the senses; Han Feizi is more dualist or sceptical of them.
- Tragic VisionΔ 1 / 10Han Feizi: 6/10Hobbes: 7/10
somewhat (1/10): Hobbes sees tragedy and limit as central; Han Feizi doesn't make that the starting point.
▸ WHERE THEY OVERLAPPED
Where the gap is smallest — both with meaningful presence on the dimension (not "neither cared").
- Universalist Impulsegap 0 / 10Han Feizi: 5/10Hobbes: 5/10
Both register moderate universalist impulse.
- Trust in Experiencegap 0 / 10Han Feizi: 8/10Hobbes: 8/10
Both lean strongly into trust in experience.
- Vital Affirmationgap 0 / 10Han Feizi: 5/10Hobbes: 5/10
Both register moderate vital affirmation.
▸ ALL 16 DIMENSIONS
The full vector comparison. Bars show their 0–10 scores side-by-side.
- Ascetic TendencyΔ 3
- Communal EmbeddednessΔ 1
- Embodied SensibilityΔ 2
- Mystical ReceptivityΔ 0
- Practical OrientationΔ 1
- Reverence for TraditionΔ 0
- Self as IllusionΔ 0
- Skeptical ReflexΔ 1
- Sovereign SelfΔ 1
- Theoretical DriveΔ 1
- Trust in ExperienceΔ 0
- Trust in ReasonΔ 1
- Tragic VisionΔ 1
- Universalist ImpulseΔ 0
- Vital AffirmationΔ 0
- Will to PowerΔ 1
◀ HAN FEIZIHOBBES ▶
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