Abstract:

As the principles of nation governance, the ideas of rule by law and rule of virtue have had a long history in both China and the West. These two ideas have undergone conflicts and integration and gradually a mature relation grows between them. At present, contradictions and problems have arisen in our market economic system. Thus it is an urgent and significant task to deal with the relation between rule of virtue and rule by law, so as to better develop socialism. Given its important contributions to nation governance in history, “unity of rule by law and rule of virtue” indeed has great realistic significance at present.

Key words: rule of virtue, rule by law, unity of rule by law and rule of virtue, socialist concept of honor and disgrace, social morality in the new era