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The Tao The Taoism can hardly be referred to as religion, in the classical sense of this word. This is because it is being largely based not on faith, but on philosophical rationale, which is the reason why Taoism appeals to people who have their sense of logic, as the cornerstone, upon which their mental activity is based. The book Tao Te Ching, which was allegedly written by Lao Tsu, emphasizes the principle of Wu-wei as such that should define peoples existential mode. The semantic complication of Chinese language prevents the interpretational uniformity of this word.
Wu-wei is better described as the doctrine of non-involvement or passivity, which people need to adopt, in order to become truly enlightened. Taoist philosophy suggest that the reason why many people are unable to live in the state of emotional comfort is that they actively try to subject the objective reality, which Lao Tsu referrers to as something absolutely unnatural. Taoism views individual as quintessential part of universal order. The fact that there is much inequality between people, Taoism explains within the context of maintaining an energetic balance in the universe.
Even though that Taoism is considered as religion that denies the notion of morality any legitimacy, it is actually not quite the case. According to Lao Tsu, the root of all evils in the world is the fact that energy is not spread out evenly, throughout the universe. Therefore, individual who wants to live a righteous life needs to constantly promote the notion of energetic balance. Taoism encourages people to help each other in times of hardship, but it is being viewed only as something that needs to be done out of abstract considerations: The Tao of heaven is to take from those who have too much and give to those who do not have enough (Tsu, Chapter 3). Taoist teachings encourage people to actively practice the principle of Wu-wei, when it comes to managing their lives. They are required to go with the flow, instead of trying to change things.
Just like Buddhism, Taoism associates active stance in life with suffering. The life itself is viewed by Lao Tsu as something that needs to be endured rather then enjoyed. The principle of Wu-wei also suggests that people need to avoid indulging into intellectualization, because it prevents them from realization of their true selves. This is the reason why genuine Taoists try to act in spontaneous manner, while suppressing the call of their ego. They believe that their value, as individuals, consists of their ability to absorb lifes challenges, rather then addressing them. Just as Jedi knights in Star Wars, Taoists believe that they simply need to rely on their instincts, when it comes to performing complicated tasks.
In recent years, it became a commonplace practice to analyze worlds religions outside of the cultural and racial context. This is the reason why many people have a difficulty, while trying to understand the essence of these religions. This especially applies to Taoism. We need to understand that Taoist philosophy could only originate in Asia, namely China.
When we look at Chinese history from the perspective of distant observer, it will appear that it lacks dynamism. Just as thousands years ago, Chinese society is hierarchically structured, when it is practically impossible for the individual to become a doctor, for example, if he was born in the family of peasants. Even though that we associate China with many scientific inventions, the principle of scientific progress has never defined the socio-political reality in this country. Nowadays, when ideological failure of Communism became apparent to everyone, this political doctrine remains dominant in China and it is most likely that this is going to be the case in the distant future as well. The reason is simple Communist ideology actually corresponds to the essence of Taoism as worldview. Taoism has been criticized from many different perspectives; however, it appears that its main metaphysical weakness has an objective nature.
The proponents of this doctrine fail to understand that the fact that there is no energetic balance in universe is exactly what enables worlds existence, in the first place. If the balance between different forces in the universe was finally achieved, it would inevitably lead to the state of entropy. It its turn, it would unable any further cultural of scientific progress. Therefore, we can actually refer to Taoism as counter-productive philosophy in principle. In order for the person to evaluate his own life, he needs to be able to look at himself from afar. Most people are concerned about how others view them, because they know that their essence, as human beings, can only be realized in its relation to the objective reality.
The reason we know what constitutes anti-social behavior, for example, is that we are capable of understanding its practical consequences. Taoism, on the other hand, suggests that it is wrong to consider individual as a social being, because it causes personality split effect. Bill Mason in his article Taoist Ethics, provides us with the insight on what constitutes the core of Taoist ethical beliefs: Taoists believe that the way we try to stand outside ourselves in the attempt of self-observation is the source of most, if not all, of our unhappiness and loneliness, simply because in order to observe as such, we must see our "self" as separate from other selves (Mason). However, it is the ability to mentally separate our subconscious urges from our reasoning is what differs us from the animals. It also serves as foundation for the contemporary social ethics, which enable the existence of civilization, as we know it. Therefore, we can say that even though Taoism might appear as being philosophically valid doctrine, it is quite impossible to think of it as something that has a potential of benefiting humanity.
We can find numerous conceptual fallacies in Taoism as well. For example, Taoists proclaim moderation as the main rule of social conduct. Nevertheless, they do not have a strong enough reason to support this idea. In addition, they suggest that people need to be unselfish, but not because it increases their social value, but because it leads to the elimination of ego. Nevertheless, we need to remember that the validity of any religious or political concept can only be tested if the notions, it promotes, are being taken to extreme, without creating a logical nonsense. If we apply this to Taoisms negative attitude towards human ego, it will appear that the ultimate Taoist must be a suicidal person.
The same can be said about Christianity, which is the reason why these both religions are associated with the promotion of social withdrawal. As history shows, such withdrawal can hardly be considered as beneficial, because it leads to denying the ideas of progress. The countless generations of Chinese Taoists have been only preoccupied with growing rice, without being able to expand their mind, just as Christian fanatics, who often prefer to live in secluded areas, so that they would not be affected by civilization. We can describe Taoism as the doctrine that encourages people to suppress their natural instincts; however, unlike Christianity, it does not promise them the prospects of afterlife, as reward. Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to refer to Taoism as the weakest of all major religions, in conceptual sense of this word.
It is the fact that Taoism propagates social passiveness and non-involvement, which deprives it of its metaphysical validity more then anything else. In his book Tao Te Ching, Lao Tsu says: Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return. Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity (Tsu, Chapter 16).
Person who believes that he should not actively strive to change world for better will never be able to realize its true destiny. This is why, even though some people in Western countries embrace Taoism as their religion, it will never help them to achieve the state of emotional comfort, because Taoism, as ethical code, is absolutely alien to European psyche. Even the most hard-core Christians do not think of Jesus commandment to expose a right cheek, after being hit in the left one, as something that needs to be taken literally. Yet, in order to become a genuine Taoist, the individual would have to accept the fact that he is nothing, that he is just an atom in the universe of pain. While many Chinese people are quite capable of doing this, it is very doubtful of whether people with different racial background can adopt a doctrine of ultimate self-denial as their own.
It would be wrong to suggest that Taoist might be capable of addressing criticism, directed at his beliefs, effectively, because the acceptance of the fact that Taoism can be equally applied to all would have to serve as the premise, upon which his contra-argument could be build. However, it is quite impossible, as we have shown earlier. Worlds religions are just reflections of peoples psyche, which is defined by mostly biological factors. Nevertheless, sometimes it might seem that Taoists actually have a point, when they argue in favor of their doctrine. It only happens when Taoists point out to the fact that the truly objective religion cannot have the notions of guilt and morality as its integral part.
Lao Tsu is absolutely right when he suggests that no teaching that has the notion of morality, being incorporated in its core, can be referred to as objective: What I say is not merely right, but righteous; what you are saying is not merely wrong, but wicked (Tsu, Chapter 13). Taoism views morality is the ultimate reason why people do not understand each other, which actually bring this doctrine close to Existentialism. This is the reason why both Existentialism and Taoism began to gain popularity in the West around the same time sixties. Apparently, we cannot imply that Taoism is altogether deprived of ideological validity; however, it does not mean that this concept provides people with entirely new insight on their existence, as it was being suggested by its enthusiasts. People in Western countries have come to understanding that the notion of morality has a relative nature with the mean of logic. In its turn, it actually encourages them to act.
Taoism, on the other hand, while referring to morality as relative category, describes passiveness and non-involvement as the only acceptable mode of existence, which makes people to associate it with morality on subconscious level. Taoists say that their religion is more of an abstract philosophy then anything else; therefore, it cannot be enforced on others, as it was the case with Christianity or Islam, throughout the history. There is of course a grain of logic can be found in this statement. However, as we have mentioned earlier, Taoism derives out of Chinese mentality. This mentality has been closely associated with Chinas expansionist policies in recent times. As history shows, sometimes the most tolerant ideas can result in many people being killed, as it was the case with Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance in India.
Therefore, in order to evaluate Taoism from the ethical standpoint, we would have to look at its practical aspects. At the time when popularity of Taoism in China was at it peak, the country was stripped of its independence de facto by France, Britain and U. S. Nowadays, Taoist ideas are becoming fashionable among many intellectuals in Western countries, which coincided with these countries loosing national integrity, because of flood of illegal immigrants. Therefore, even though that Taoism is actually a very advanced religious philosophy, it can never attract people to the full extent, because it is simply too abstract and because it totally denies irrational will, as the main motivational factor of peoples social activity. It would be wrong to suggest that Taoism, as religious philosophy, does not have an empirical value.
There can be no doubts as to whether it is capable of addressing peoples spiritual needs. However, since these needs simply reflect peoples ethnic identity in the realm of spirituality, we cannot refer to Taoism as philosophy that has universal properties. While Chinese mentality considers Yin and Yang as different manifestations of the same essence, European approach to dealing with these concepts would consist of opposing them as something irreconcilable. Taoist thinks that the greatest virtue of all is individuals ability to get rid of its personalized subjectivity, while European mentality refers to it as something that initiates progress in the first place. Therefore, even though modern Taoism strives to present itself as doctrine that is universally applicable to all, facts point out to otherwise. Bibliography: Mason, Bill Taoist Ethics. 2005.
Taoism. Net. 23 Oct. 2007. web Tsu, Lao Tao Te Ching. Gia Fu Feng translation. New York: Wildwood House. 1991. Zhu, Cheng Tacit Knowledge in Taoism and Its Influence on Chinese Culture. 2002.
GSE Web. 23 Oct. 2007. web
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