Shen Dao (c. 350 – c. 275 BC) was a mid Warring states period Chinese philosopher and writer. Early remembered modernly for his influence on the Han Feizi with regards the concept of shi (勢; 'power', 'potential', circumstantial advantage or authority), most of his work would apper to have concerned the concept of fa (administrative methods and standards) commonly shared by others that the Han Confucian archivists classified as "Legalist". Compared with western schools, Shen Dao considered laws that are not good "still preferable to having no laws at all."[1]
Usually referred to as "Shenzi" (慎子 'Master Shen') for his writings, very little is known of Shen Dao's life. An itinerant philosopher from the state of Zhao, he was probably born about 350 BC, travelling to the city of Linzi (modern Zibo in Shandong) in 300 BC to become a member of the Jixia Academy. He probably left Linzi after its capture by the state of Yan in 285 BC.[2]
