Ideas from 'Daodejing (Tao Te Ching)' by Laozi (Lao Tzu) [530 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Tao Te Ching' by Lao Tzu (ed/tr Lau,D.C.) [Penguin 1963,0-14-044131-X]].

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1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 2. Wise People

6319	Wise people choose inaction and silence

			Full Idea: The sage keeps to the deed that consists in taking no action and practises the teaching that uses no words.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], I.II.6)
			A reaction: Notice that this is an active 'deed', and a positive 'practice'. He is not just recommending indifference and lethargy. Personally I don't find the advice very appealing, but it might be good if you live in 'interesting times'.

6325	One who knows does not speak; one who speaks does not know

			Full Idea: One who knows does not speak; one who speaks does not know.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.LVI.128)
			A reaction: A famous remark, which my western mind finds simply perplexing. It strikes me as wicked selfishness to keep your wisdom to yourself, and not try to persuade others to follow it. We are all in this together, I say.

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy

6321	Vulgar people are alert; I alone am muddled

			Full Idea: Vulgar people are alert; I alone am muddled.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], I.XX.47)
			A reaction: Personally I think all human beings are deeply perplexed when they actually address their situation, but most people never spend more than a few minutes a year worrying about it.

11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 1. Knowledge

6328	To know yet to think that one does not know is best

			Full Idea: To know yet to think that one does not know is best.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.LXXI.173)
			A reaction: Tricky. Self-deception doesn't sound like a virtue to me. There are epistemic virtues, and caution about one's own knowledge has to be one of them, but a totally false assessment sounds counter-productive.

6323	Pursuit of learning increases activity; the Way decreases it

			Full Idea: In the pursuit of learning one knows more every day; in the pursuit of the Way one does less every day.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.XLVII.108)
			A reaction: Everything in my culture has raised the status of the pursuit of learning, so that I can hardly comprehend what is proposed by the Way. I don't believe that the Way can be achieved without great learning, but one might move beyond learning.

19. Language / F. Communication / 1. Rhetoric

6331	Truth is not beautiful; beautiful speech is not truthful

			Full Idea: Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.LXXXI.194)
			A reaction: A sharp disagreement with Keats ('Ode to a Grecian Urn'). A deep and important question, especially in relation to Plato's discussion of rhetoric (where he is very ambivalent). Great mathematics is beautiful. Truth can harsh. On the whole, I disagree.

22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / e. Death

6330	One with no use for life is wiser than one who values it

			Full Idea: It is just because one has no use for life that one is wiser than the man who values life.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.LXXV.181a)
			A reaction: To have no use for life certainly seems to put a person into a position of superiority, especially when the 'Titanic' is sinking. However, if our lives have no value, I don't know what does. A balance must clearly be struck.

22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love

6327	Do good to him who has done you an injury

			Full Idea: Do good to him who has done you an injury.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.LXIII.148)
			A reaction: Compare Idea 6288 (Jesus). People like this really mess up the social contract theory of morality. If they are going to return good for your evil, there doesn't seem much point in helping them, given how much effort is involved. Most peculiar…

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / a. Nature of virtue

23402

The highest virtue is achieved without effort

			Full Idea: Those of highest virtue do not strive for virtue, and so they have it.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], 38), quoted by Bryan van Norden - Intro to Classical Chinese Philosophy 8.II.2
			A reaction: Every moralist's dream is the person to whom virtue comes so naturally that no thought is required. This says they don't even notice it; Aristotle says they simply enjoying behaving virtuously.

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue

6324	To gain in goodness, treat as good those who are good, and those who are not

			Full Idea: Those who are good I treat as good; those who are not good I also treat as good; in doing so I gain in goodness.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.XLIX.111)
			A reaction: Socrates (idea 346) and Jesus (Idea 6288) had similar ideas. Who, though, is going to administer justice, and where is the idea that people 'deserve' good or ill treatment? Schoolteachers should treat all children as if they were good.

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / g. Desires

6322	There is no crime greater than having too many desires

			Full Idea: There is no crime greater than having too many desires.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.XLVI.104)
			A reaction: It seems harsh to call this a 'crime', given that no one is likely to choose to have 'too many' desires. The crime is in deciding to stimulate desire to excess, or deciding to show no sensible restraint.

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / a. Autocracy

6320	The best rulers are invisible, the next admired, the next feared, and the worst are exploited

			Full Idea: The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects; next comes the ruler they love and praise; next comes one they fear; next comes one with whom they take liberties.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], I.XVII.39)
			A reaction: This fits our understanding of football referees to perfection. It might apply to anyone doing a vital adminstrative job, such as compiling a school timetable. It is hard, though, to accept anonymity as a mark of success.

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / a. Government

6329	People are hard to govern because authorities love to do things

			Full Idea: It is because those in authority are too fond of action that the people are difficult to govern.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.LXXV.181)
			A reaction: I love this. It should be on the wall of every human institution in our civilization. How the heart sinks at the prospect of a 'new initiative'. Not that I am against action; it is just important to recognise that inaction is sometimes the best option.

25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / a. Legal system

6326	The better known the law, the more criminals there are

			Full Idea: The better known the laws and edicts, the more thieves and robbers there are.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], II.LVII.132)
			A reaction: Nice. I link this with my favourite moral maxim from Democritus (Idea 519). The idea is that continual emphasis on what you should not do fills the mind with evil possibilities. Moral perfection must start by taking goodness for granted.

25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / e. Peace

23401

A military victory is not a thing of beauty

			Full Idea: A military victory is not a thing of beauty.
			From: Laozi (Lao Tzu) (Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) [c.530 BCE], 31), quoted by Bryan van Norden - Intro to Classical Chinese Philosophy 8.II.1
			A reaction: Should be written on the wall of every military academy and barracks.