Chapter 111 Philosophical Thinking in Debate

In the middle and late Warring States period, Qin State became stronger and stronger after Shang Yang's reform, no longer reconciled to living in a corner, so it pointed the spearhead of aggression to the east; after the Maling War, Qi State replaced Wei State as the overlord of the Central Plains.In this way, both Qin and Qi took expansion to the Central Plains as their main development direction, and the existing melee situation became more complicated.In order to seek self-surviveness, the three countries of Han, Zhao, and Wei, which were under the attack of the two powers in the east and west, united and connected Yan in the north, Chu in the south, and resisted Qi in the east or Qin in the west. All the weak ones attack the one strong"; if a weak country is united by Qi or Qin to attack other weak countries, it is called "Lianheng", which means "a strong one attacks the weak ones".In the late Warring States period, Le Yi broke Qi, and Qi fell into a slump; in the Battle of Changping, Zhao was severely weakened, and Qin gained absolute advantage over the six eastern countries. The six countries fight against Qin together, which is called Hezong; Qin unites a weak country in the east to deal with other weak countries, which is called Lianheng.Therefore, a group of lobbyists who were very skilled in the political situation among the countries at that time, good at rhetoric and power tactics, and gained fame and fortune from it came into being. They are called "strategists" in history books.

Although political strategists mainly carry out activities for political purposes, their speeches and deeds reveal obvious philosophical methodology, especially logical thinking in debates.