Questions tagged [taoism]
38 questions
12
votes
8 answers
Recommend "best" (see description) English translation of Tao Te Ching
Would someone who is vary familiar with Lao Tzu's philosophy please refer me to a translation of Tao Te Ching that preserves the spirit and eternal messages of Tao Te Ching. I don't like the translations I've read that try to modernize the text, and…
mikeed_5
- 121
- 1
- 1
- 5
11
votes
6 answers
Is the Dao a thing or an action?
Studying the Dao as a Westerner, I am constantly perplexed by the ineffability of the Dao. It always strikes me as though I should be able to attach properties to a noun, even if that property is merely "ineffable."
Looking at the words people use…
Cort Ammon
- 17,336
- 23
- 59
9
votes
5 answers
Why is a white horse not a horse?
While learning about Taoist philosophy, we learned about Gongsung Long's argument that a white horse is not a horse. We recieved the english translation of his argument, and for me it didn't make much sense (perhaps because of translation issues?)…
Cicero
- 701
- 7
- 21
7
votes
8 answers
How similar are Taoism and Christianity?
The current Wikipedia article on Taoism contains a relatively prominent section devoted to arguments in favor of an alleged similarity between Taoism and Christianity.
Some authors have dealt with comparative studies between Taoism and
…
Drux
- 1,644
- 1
- 12
- 26
6
votes
4 answers
If we stick to "The Way" in Taoism, won't it be sinful?
The short question is: if we stick to The Way in Tao Te Ching, won't that be sinful?
That's because, The Way seems to be the "most natural way". For example, if we know the manager likes flattering, we flatter her and then once we know she is friend…
Stefanie Gauss
- 383
- 1
- 10
6
votes
2 answers
Similarities between philosophies of Zhuangzi (daoism) and Friedrich Nietzsche?
I've come across these quotes by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900) and about Chinese daoist philosopher Zhuangzi (4th century BC).
from Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy from the Spirit of Music:
But now science, incited by its…
Drux
- 1,644
- 1
- 12
- 26
5
votes
3 answers
For someone who studies Daoism, how would they make another Daoist see that they are in fact following the Dao?
For a quick summary of the Dao, here is an excerpt of what it is in the book Effortless Action: Wu-wei as Conceptual Metaphor and Spiritual Ideal in Early China
The culmination of knowledge is understood not in terms of a grasp of abstract…
Ooker
- 725
- 1
- 5
- 19
5
votes
3 answers
How does philosophy not fall into the confirmation bias?
Daoism and Buddhism in Eastern philosophies emphasize adaptation and flexibility, and critique rationality. They have different frameworks to understand the same phenomenon, and different goals for our reactions to it, and I understand and like…
Ooker
- 725
- 1
- 5
- 19
5
votes
2 answers
To use the limited to pursue the unlimited is foolish?
I have occasionally used an (apparent) quote from Chinese (Taoist) philosopher Zhuangzi's Wikipedia article and am wondering about the original form and where exactly it might be cited from:
To use the limited to pursue the unlimited, he said, was…
Drux
- 1,644
- 1
- 12
- 26
4
votes
1 answer
Chinese 'Tao' ('Dao') vs South African Ubuntu
What are some similarities and differences between the Chinese concept of Dao in Daoism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao) versus the South African concept of Ubuntu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(philosophy))?
aansible
- 49
- 1
4
votes
3 answers
Are there sources in daoistic philosophy regarding the concept of the specifically human?
What I am looking for are sources (wether historical or, even better, contemporary), that stand in the tradition of daoistic philosophy and focus on the concept of humanity.
The goal is basically developing a holistic, more general understanding of…
Philip Klöcking
- 13,015
- 3
- 39
- 69
3
votes
2 answers
What exactly is duality?
As a novice in philosophy, I haven't read all the material available on the subject of duality but I find it fascinating for both its profound simplicity and for being responsible for my brain telling me THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE whenever I attempt to…
Agent Smith
- 2,488
- 6
- 22
3
votes
1 answer
The Farmer narration by Alan Watts
Is anyone aware of the story of a Chinese farmer (A Taoist parable) who keeps saying "maybe" to every event (Good or bad) that happens to him because we don't know the consequences of those events in the future. My question is does that mean we…
RicharHit
- 31
- 3
3
votes
3 answers
What is the philosophical significance of the First Law of Thermodynamics?
The Law states that “no energy can be destroyed or created, for it is constant; it can only be transformed from one form to another”. Do you think this alignes with many of the teachings of Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism (Eastern philosphy in general)…
Вања Ђурић
- 31
- 2
3
votes
2 answers
From where does sensing take place during dreams?
In the Zhuangzi (Taoist text), Zhuang Zhou wrote he dreamed he was a butterfly. When he woke up he did not know whether he was perhaps a butterfly dreaming he is a man. (Wikipedia)
Personally, I never dreamed of being another creature. When I…
Marquard Dirk Pienaar
- 173
- 9