Each person strives to be the best possible person they can be in all aspects of their lives. We may value one aspect more than another, and work harder at our jobs vs our relationships or the other way around, but what would take to become a superior man? Within the Confucianism and Taoism religions there is a concept of a superior man. This paper is going to look at each religion and the principles that embody the superior man. Then this paper will compare both concepts of the superior man.
When thinking of all the demands of one’s everyday life, how could one become a superior man? According to the Confucianism beliefs it is a difficult task that requires building relationships and following virtues to become a superior …show more content…
“The Dao is “nameless”; that is, it is not any individual thing that has a name, such as a door, a tree, a bird, a person. The Dao cannot be named because it has no form. But the Dao can be experienced and followed by every individual thing that has a name” (Molloy, 2013, p. 213). Instead of working to achieve social statue by gain relationships, and living by the five virtues one is to become free from desires for things. “ To experience Dao, we must leave behind or desires for individual things, a concept that runs counter to everyday concerns-how much something cost, what time it is now” (Molloy, 2013, p. 213). With this loss of desire for concerns the superior man is not concentrating on what impact he has on others just himself and nature. The Zhuangzi in Van Voorst book expresses the superior man as one who does not let things impact his mind, he acts and speaks freely without much worry or thought. “Primarily, the Dao is the way that nature expresses itself- the natural way. Human beings can unite themselves with Dao in the way they live” (Molloy, 2013, p. 216). These ways of living …show more content…
Confucianism strength in their relationships impacts how one is to live up to their social status and roles. Along with building relationships that influence our personal excellence one must live and follow the five virtues that provide guidance to one’s unique abilities. The importance of how others are treated, the respect that is demonstrated, and the drive for more are what creates a superior man within the Confucianism religion. On the other hand the Taoism religion focuses on receiving harmony with the Dao and then one becomes a superior man. There is a focus of inner peace and learning the ability to understand the flow of nature and provide a purity of one’s spirit (Molloy, 2013). “In Daoism, everything is a part of the rhythm of nature- the Dao. In Confucianism, however, although birds and clouds and trees are what they should be, human beings do not automatically become what they should be” (Molloy, 2013, p.