The first reading in chapter one of our text Pursuing Happiness, edited by Mathew Parfitt and Dawn Skorczewski, presents material translated from The TaoTeChing. I studied multiple sources to find more about this ancient text, and in the paragraphs below I will discuss the meaning of Tao its self, the author behind the work, and how Taoism has grown and changed through the centuries up to present time. Taoism is a religion that originated in china approximately 2,400 years ago. The main principles of Taoism come from the Tao Te Ching which was written by a man named Lao Tzu. He was the keeper of the imperial library and he was famous across the land for his wisdom.…
It is important to study, work hard and always be open to new opportunities. Tzu caused controversy amongst other philosophers. While he and many other individuals assumed the general…
In the East, particular within the great ancient Chinese civilizations, two very different kinds of point to view of being Human had come to flourish in the Chinese culture. Which till this very day influences the day by day tasks and challenges faced by many. On one side there is the world renowned teachings of Confucius (Kongzi) which talks of becoming the perfect society via men who become the perfect gentlemen that followed his teachings in his Analects. On the other side we have the life lessons and guides of another by the name of Laozi. Whose approach on life was drastically different compared to Kongzi’s perfect society, in which he preached the Dao (the way).…
“The heat, the thirst, the pestilential stench, the suffocating lack of air- these were as nothing compared with these screams which tore us to shreds. A few days more and we should all have started to scream too.” (Wiesel 17) 1933 to 1945 was a time that no one could imagine and definitely something that no one ever wants to repeat.…
Throughout the ages people have to realize that there are different ideas and different ways to governing the world and people. For one it is all about appearance. To the people he has to appear to be true and keep up the appearance he is honest and true, but in reality he is thinking only about himself. He is trying to think make sure that he always has power. It isn’t about the people, but about keeping the people in her hands.…
Reading the works of Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu in succession highlight how truly at opposition the messages are. Though both pieces express the desired way to govern a people, the “Tao-te Ching” speaks of peace, simplicity, and letting the universe work its will, while “The Qualities of the Prince” emphasizes the necessity for war, and the natural wickedness of men. There are no particular reasons that these two ways of thought should be in harmony, one written in the 6th century, and the other the 16th, but they are similar in that they are highly revered and the aphorisms taken from the text are often quoted and considered wise, brilliant, and true. Both authors seem to believe that they are experts in the ways of human nature, and at their…
Jesus, Moses, Buddha and Lao Tzu have a huge influence on 4 major religions. Jesus Christ is a major figure for Christianity. He is the center of Christianity. Even though Christianity evolves around Jesus, He didn’t start the religion. Christians see Jesus as the Son of God that was born from a virgin woman.…
Elie Wiesel is a young Jewish boy who lives in Sighet which is a small town in Transylvania where he spent most of his childhood. A man name Moishe the Beadle was a poor man that became his master to teach him the Talmud and Kabbalah. Suddenly, all of the foreign Jews were expelled including his master. Moishe returned to the town to warn them about the horrible things that had happen with him and the others, but nobody listened to him thinking he had gone crazy. Soon enough the Germans came to the town and then everything changed.…
Holocaust Research Paper The survivors of the Holocaust have painted a sympathetic, yet mournful picture in the minds of those who are eager to listen to their stories. The many horrors of the Holocaust have rendered those survivors with forlorn memories that will last a lifetime—but to what extent did the Nazis really go to inflict such terrors? Eliezer Wiesel wrote a powerful memoir called Night that recalled his very own experience throughout World War II with stirring details and emotive plots surrounding the Nazis. He wrote it with his heart and wistful mind and told his story through the deceased, who would’ve spoken of the same terrors if they hadn’t passed away.…
The second chapter of a people’s history of the United States by Howard Zinn is named drawing the color line. In this chapter, Zinn specifically talks about the start and rise of slavery in the United States, and the process through which slavery was able to occur and eventually flourish. At the end of the article, he talks about 6 specific conditions that allowed and were needed for slavery. The profit is depicted in Lao-tzu’s Tao Te Ching and the control is resisted in Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.…
In China's ancient culture, there were many schools of thought, but the most important two thoughts are Ru tradition from “The Analects” and Daoist School from “Tao Te Ching”, which were created by Confucius and Laozi. Confucius promotes a hierarchical and moral society based on propriety while Laozi promotes a classless and simple social life. Although they seem to be two contradictory propositions, they both claim to go back and rebuild the lost Golden Ages through the way. Confucius advocated going back to an ideal society where people followed propriety. This is shown in the text when Duke Jing of Qi asks Confucius about governing.…
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…
He believed that what a man learned was reflected in his actions. Even though Tzu presents many good ideas and critical thoughts, he does have a weakened argument due to the fact that he used the “appeal to authority” fallacy. As a philosopher, Tzu’s audience would consist of mainly, teachers, students, and scholars. His writings are appropriate for his audience, as he is discussing learning and the importance of a life-long education.…
Taoism contrary to Confucianism, my Interpretation with Smart’s Seven Dimensions of Religion The comparisons between these two religions are analogous at best, similar in many aspects, yet, different in many facets of history, rituals, and even the creators of each religion. Even though, Confucianism does not believe in a God, per se, but rather, philosophical beliefs in the person themselves and what one makes of their life, through the unifying interactions of yin and yang. Taoism, also known as Daoism, does not have a fully recognized God, similar to Lao Tzu, who is revered by some, others, a majority, believes in the many differing Gods that serve a specific purpose, essentially, prayers are offered to specific deities based on circumstance.…