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CONFUCIUS' CONCEPT OF TAO AND CHUANG TZU'S CONCEPT OF TAO Name Institution Date CONFUCIUS' CONCEPT OF TAO AND CHUANG TZU'S CONCEPT OF TAO The term Tao has in many ways be defined however no clear definition exists. Taoism has however been referred to being both philosophical and religious in tradition. The philosophical Taoism is thought to be from the ancient indigenous spiritual ways of the East. In its totality its primary basis lies on the belief that the universe consists of a self-generating force known as chi with the power manifesting in two forms either as yin or yang. Yin refers to the dark female receptive structure of the universe and the yang referring to the bright male assertive way of the world. (Waley 2005)These two forms of nature are said to be ever present with a constant shift in balance. The resultant rhythm created by yin and yang Capra. (2010). The Tao of Physics: An exploration of the parallels between modern physics and eastern mysticism. Shambhala: Shambhala Publications. Ho D. Y. (1995). Selfhood and Identity in Confucianism Taoism Buddhism and Hinduism: contrast with the West. Tokyo: Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour 25(2) 115-139. Jensen. (2007). Jensen J. Vernon. "Rhetorical emphases of Taoism.". A Journal of the History of Rhetoric 5.3 (1987): 219-229. Longxi. (2005). The" Tao" and the" Logos": Notes on Derrida's Critique of Logocentrism. Hawaii: Critical Inquiry 11(3) 385-398. Mair Victor H. (2008). Wandering on the way: Early Taoist tales and parables of Chuang Tzu. Hawaii: UNIVERSITY OF Hawaii Press. Merton T. (2004). The Way of Chuang Tzu. Shambhala: Shambhala Publications. Waley. (2005). The Analects of Confucius. Vol. 28. Chicago: Psychology Press 2005. Yearley. (2004). Hsün Tzu on the mind: his attempted synthesis of Confucianism and Taoism. The Journal of Asian Studies 39(03) 465-480. [...]
Order Description:
Requirement: This is a comparative essay; Write 2000 words; Compare and contrast how Confucius and Chuang Tzu use the same term, Tao (the Way). Refer to specific textual passages from both philosophers’ texts. (Hint: Confucius’s concept of the Tao is more socially oriented while that of Chuang Tzu is more nature-bound). Discuss the implications of their respective understandings of Tao.
Subject Area: Philosophy
Document Type: Reports
