Essay - Lao-tzu's Thoughts on Virtue (Obtaining Teh) Politics and Ethics, When...

Lao-Tzu's Thoughts on Virtue (Obtaining Teh)

Politics and ethics, when used in conjunction are thought by some to be an oxymoron. However, a combination of the two has been ***** subjects of m*****y philosophical debates. If one can assume that Man is able to take in***** consideration the motivations as well ***** ***** consequences of their decisions and behaviors, ***** that Man has the ability to reason, as opposed to act*****g from natural instincts or compulsion, *****n it can be argued that ***** h***** the abil*****y to define ethical behavior and adhere to moral traditions. It is the essence of human ***** to ***** right from wrong in the quest for community and transcendence. Political leaders have this ability, if not the *****clination. Lao-Tzu, in ***** Tao-te Ching, argues ***** Man may find and follow the path, or Tao, ***** living and that a cert*****in virtue, ***** The, arises from the effort. Leaders ***** then incorporate the values of the way into building *****. The political analyst ***** philosopher, Machiavelli, opposes ***** argument and proposes *****, in the political sense, is not an ethical element but, ra*****r, a tool for politic*****l gain.

In Taoism, all of reality is understood as being in some ***** one with God or the Div*****e. The Tao*****t notion ***** nothingness (k'ung) implies that nothingness is the primary source ***** which all phenomenal f*****ms ar*****e. Lao-tzu (translated ***** Old Sage) was the reputed founder of Chinese Taoism. Throughout ***** pottery and painting, Lao-tzu appears riding with feet at ***** same side on the back of a w*****er buffalo, the indomitable physical symbol of ********** humble simplicity and spiritual strength.

***** Taoism of Lao-tzu pr*****esses a c*****nectedness between ***** living things, a 'oneness'. The Taoist strives to be free of all desire - to be simple, pure, and above all, in tune ***** the natural way, or Tao, of the universe. Lao*****tzu thought that 'the way' or Tao is to be found with***** each individual separately. This means that there ***** many truths ***** which the w*****ld can be understood. He also thought that any human interference in the ***** scheme ***** ***** amounted to gross egotism. The "Tao Te ***** is fundamentally a work of mysticism. Organized as eighty-one stanzas of mixed verse and prose, it includes material on several d*****ferent *****pics: self-cultivation, statecraft, mil*****ary science, health" (Derbyshire 71).

***** addition to Tao, or the Way, there exists a spirit that moves human ********** ***** work together. This is The (pronounced "duh"), or virtue. "Both Tao ***** Te(h) are essentially ineffable, ***** by certain *****ual exercises we can attain enough acquaintance ***** them to improve our lives, our government, ***** military prowess, and even apparently our health. These ***** center on the cultivation of something called wu-wei, ***** translators have variously rendered as 'non-action,' 'unattached action,' 'Non-Ado,' 'not-doing,' and so on" (Derbyshire 7).

***** not couched in terms of an a priori reality, the concept of the 'nothingness' of self is one that allows for the