Daodejing by Lao Tzu is the classical Chinese philosophy literature which presented a way of life that intended to restore the harmony and tranquility to a kingdom racked by widespread disorders. This way of thinking was critical of the uncontrolled careless, and dangerousness for rulers to seeking their self and was hateful of social activism based on the type of abstract moralism and mechanical propriety behavior of Confucian ethics. In chapter 72 of Daodejing, Lao Tzu expresses his views on…
At a superficial level, Laozi and Mozi seem to be at odds with one another on nearly all levels. Mozi’s philosophy is backed up with reasoning and a prevailing idea of rational thought in order to create order. Seemingly contradictory is Laozi’s claim that order is created through a spiritual law produced by an entity he calls “Dao” or the Way. At a glance Laozi’s philosophy seems far too mystical to have similarities with Mozi, but they actually have far more in common when it comes to how they…
As I begin, I want to mention that I have disagreed with many of the things that PGL have said in The Path, but I was not in disagreement with them in this, the Laozi, chapter as much as I had been in earlier chapters. While they get much of the message of Daoism wrong, I do not believe this to be a result of an error in communication, as in previous chapters. However, despite not mistranslating the core philosophy, PGL miss the point of Daoism and somehow, wrongfully, arrive at the conclusion…
on ren and xiao which mean benevolence and filial piety, respectively. He believes that filial piety and benevolence are interconnected and says “filial piety and respect for elders constitute the root of Goodness. (Analects, 1.2)” On the contrary, Laozi suggests in the Daodejing that “cut off benevolence, abandon righteousness, and people will return to being filial and kind. (Daodejing,…
The texts Daodejing by Laozi and Inferno by Dante both provide a powerful definition and illustration of virtue, which determines the future of an individual. Under Daodejing, virtue is defined as the power intrinsic in each thing in its natural state and the force that allows humans to reach their full potential. To achieve this power, one must follow the natural way of being uncorrupted, and ultimately it will reach their goals. The Inferno talks about a number of virtues as well as sins that…
The concept of dao (the Way) has been a fundamental component to various schools of Chinese philosophy, in particular the school of Confucianism and Daoism. Xunzi, a Confucian scholar, and the Laozi, the Daoist text otherwise known as the Daodejing), illustrate how the concept of dao integrated in all aspects of life of ancient Chinese civilians. Though they share similarities in the audience consuming their working definition of dao, there are certainly disparities in the ideologies of the Way…
to my class from The Tao Te Ching written by Laozi portray incredible examples to help explain the concepts of dualism and nonduality. My personal favorite of the passages is passage thirteen which states, “Success is as dangerous as failure…What does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure? Whether you go up the ladder or down it, your position is shaky. When you stand with your two feet on the ground, you will always keep your balance...” (Laozi). As you can clearly see, the dualistic…
The Origins of Daoism It is explained in three different theories listed below. Attitudinal Daoism I: Anarchism Attitudinal Daoism II: Authoritarian Intuitionism Pre-Laozi Daoist Theory Much of the thrust of Daoism, as we have seen, naturally motivates a reaction against the moralistic and elitist inclinations of Confucianism. Confucianism stood for a rigid, detailed, traditional pattern of hierarchical social behavior. Duties were assigned to all of one's social roles—and a person typically…
appears frequently. Even within a specific text, such as the Laozi, the idea of The Way wavers from chapter to chapter. Nevertheless, out of all the seemingly contradictory explanations, the meaning of the Dao arises. While Chapter 1 expresses the most accurate understanding of The Way through its’ description and syntax, other passages such as Chapter 4 and Chapter 25 support and expand the interpretation, respectively. For the Laozi to begin it’s first sentence with an expression describing…
Taoism is a religious, philosophical and ritual tradition originating in around the 3rd or 4th century. I plan to pursue how the religion was affected by the culture in which it arose. Specifically focusing on the fact that there are no real deities in Taoism. How was Taoism, or Daoism, shaped and influenced by Chinese culture to evolve into a religion that lacks prominent deities. I plan to explore how the teachings of the Dao De Jin, or Tao Te Ching, present the central entity in Taoism, the…