Resolving the “Trolley Problem” through Human Nature, Pragmatism, and Institutions: An Exploration of Han Feizi’s Thought in a Scene from Swords into Plowshares

Abstract

This thesis takes as its analytical entry point a pivotal scene from the historical drama Swords into Plowshares, in which the protagonist Guo Rong confronts a breakdown of order during a refugee food distribution. By drawing an analogy with the well‑known ethical dilemma of the “trolley problem,” the study investigates the Legalist undercurrents-specifically those of Han Feizi-that inform Guo’s drastic decisaion. The discussion proceeds along three interconnected dimensions. First, “governing by following human nature” reveals how Guo exploits the refugees’ innate self‑interest through exemplary punishment, a strategy that resonates with Han Feizi’s conviction that people are fundamentally driven by the desire for gain and the fear of harm. Second, “valuing pragmatism in governance” demonstrates that Guo’s imposition of a severe penalty for a minor infraction is deliberately calibrated to restore public order with maximum efficiency, echoing the Legalist criterion of practical utility as the ultimate measure of political action. Third, “wielding the two handles and upholding institutions” shows that Guo combines rewards and punishments with the explicit enunciation of rules-an embryonic form of institutional governance-which mirrors Han Feizi’s tripartite framework of law (fa), statecraft (shu), and power (shi). The thesis further observes that Guo, though performing as a Legalist enforcer, remains keenly aware of the moral cost of his deeds, thereby exposing a profound tension between political expediency and ethical conscience. Through a close reading of both the dramatic narrative and canonical Legalist texts, this study not only illuminates the contextual applicability of Han Feizi’s philosophy but also invites reflection on the enduring ethical predicaments inherent in crisis governance.