While analyzing the Tao-te-Ching, many major themes are apparent. From the inevitability of change to the importance of non-action, the Tao-te-Ching is truly full of life lessons that deserve extensive analysis; however, one of the most prevalent and recurring themes is balance and its importance. Throughout Cultural Perspectives, many authors have addressed this same theme. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, Plato, and Saint Augustine have all discussed this important topic; however, Aristotle best complements and contrasts Lao Tzu’s Tao-te-Ching in his work Nichmachean Ethics. When comparing and contrasting these two texts, one can see that these two authors had very similar ideas on the concept of balance. When comparing the two texts’ thoughts
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When [yang] and [yin] combine, all things achieve harmony (42).
This suggests that in any properly balanced human experience there will be traces of both yin and yang; therefore, yin and yang are not complete opposites, rather they are complementary entities that stem from a common origin. Aristotle’s and Lao Tzu’s ideas on the poles of balance are virtually the same. The Tao-te-Ching and Nichmachean Ethics definitely have similar ideas about balance, but the texts also have aspects where they differ on the subject. This difference can be seen through the authors’ ideas on how to achieve this balance. Aristotle preaches that the way to find the balance for virtue is to practice the virtue. He …show more content…
Aristotle suggests that a continual practice and effort is required to find and sustain balance in our world; however, Lao Tzu would not agree with Aristotle’s idea. Lao Tzu discusses throughout the Tao-te-Ching the idea of a natural equilibrium. Lao Tzu writes:
Do you want to improve the world? I don’t think it can be done. The world is sacred. It can’t be improved. If you tamper with it, you’ll ruin it. If you treat it like an object, you’ll lose it…The Master sees things as they are, without trying to control them. She lets them go their own way, and resides at the centre of the circle (29).
Lao Tzu argues that people can neither fix nor improve the world, for they would only harm it more if they tried. The job of the human race is to center themselves with the Tao because that is where true balance is found (29). The ideas of Aristotle and Lao Tzu in this situation are contrary to one another, but as both authors agree, that does not mean that one is wrong while the other is correct. These two points of view are opposites, so according to Lao Tzu and Aristotle, they complement each other. At the end of the day, the differences of the texts enforce one another’s
When [yang] and [yin] combine, all things achieve harmony (42).
This suggests that in any properly balanced human experience there will be traces of both yin and yang; therefore, yin and yang are not complete opposites, rather they are complementary entities that stem from a common origin. Aristotle’s and Lao Tzu’s ideas on the poles of balance are virtually the same. The Tao-te-Ching and Nichmachean Ethics definitely have similar ideas about balance, but the texts also have aspects where they differ on the subject. This difference can be seen through the authors’ ideas on how to achieve this balance. Aristotle preaches that the way to find the balance for virtue is to practice the virtue. He …show more content…
Aristotle suggests that a continual practice and effort is required to find and sustain balance in our world; however, Lao Tzu would not agree with Aristotle’s idea. Lao Tzu discusses throughout the Tao-te-Ching the idea of a natural equilibrium. Lao Tzu writes:
Do you want to improve the world? I don’t think it can be done. The world is sacred. It can’t be improved. If you tamper with it, you’ll ruin it. If you treat it like an object, you’ll lose it…The Master sees things as they are, without trying to control them. She lets them go their own way, and resides at the centre of the circle (29).
Lao Tzu argues that people can neither fix nor improve the world, for they would only harm it more if they tried. The job of the human race is to center themselves with the Tao because that is where true balance is found (29). The ideas of Aristotle and Lao Tzu in this situation are contrary to one another, but as both authors agree, that does not mean that one is wrong while the other is correct. These two points of view are opposites, so according to Lao Tzu and Aristotle, they complement each other. At the end of the day, the differences of the texts enforce one another’s