歷來研究多將韓非思想定位為專為君主利益立說的極權主義，並多為負面評價。實則我們不能以今非古，以今日民主的角度直接將集權專制思想與邪僻思想劃上等號。從韓非的時代背景而論，韓非的集權專制思想是為適應戰國末年趨向集權的「新型國家」而發，而非其集權專制思想才使中國走上兩千年的威權體制。由此外緣因素可知韓非思想有其必要性。另一方面，從韓非思想的內部脈絡而論，集權專制思想也有其合理性。因為在當時，君王的權威正代表了秩序的保證，而這樣的思維又與民智不可用和為民作主的思維有密切關係。當然，從現代的眼光而論，民智不可用與為民作主的想法或許並不恰當，但是如果我們細掇韓非思想就可以發現，這樣的思維非但不是貶抑人民，反而是一套以利民為目的的淑世理論。因為《韓非子》中處處可見以富國強兵為目的的論述，而富國強兵的最終目的即是所謂的「利民萌」。即便是以往最為人所詬病的加深階級對立與嚴刑峻法之論，如深究其內涵，其中也蘊含了別貴賤以穩定秩序、以刑止刑以達安定的思維，其最終目的無一不是以利民為目標。至於《韓非子》書中的君主中心論述與權謀思想，則是為了國家的富強與人民的安樂所必要的策略性論述。因此，韓非的集權專制思想有其合理性與必要性，更是一套充滿淑世精神的學說。

In the past, the research of the thought of Han-Fei usually say it is Totalitarianism for emperor. As a matter of fact, we can not say the thought of strengthened central state power and autocratic is evil, through the modern democratic thinking. In the background of Han-Fei, the state that has strengthened central power had to form, so he crates the political thought for that state and times. We should know that not the thought of Han-Fei make Chinese to become the state that has strengthened central power. In the other side, the thought of strengthened central state power and autocratic of Han-Fei is necessary. We also should know the emperor power is stand for the order, that is to say no emperor power, no order. This situation is benefit for the people. In HanFeiZi, we can find the thought for making the state wealthy and powerful, and that is in order to benefit the People. We can also say the thought of severe law and hierarchical society are both for the benefit of people. The doctrine that for the advantage of emperor in HanFeiZi is just the tactic to convince emperor accept his though. In a word, we can not criticize the thought of Han-Fei just because he emphasizes the strengthened central state power and autocratic thinking.