Comparison Of Confucius And Lao Tzu

Categories: Confucianism

Confucius and Lao Tzu are widely regarded as two of the most praised and well known Chinese philosophers. The Analects of Confucius is often compared with one of Lao Tzu’s great works, Tao the Ching. They both have unique standpoints, some similar but most differentiating. the main difference between the two is the is Confucius emphasizes the importance of loving and respecting others, along with improving knowledge. While Lao Tau stresses the significance of finding peace within yourself and gaining balance in your life.

Confucianism focuses on social matters, while Taoism targets finding inner meaning and reason.

The Analects mention the Chinese term “jen”, which essentially means goodness. Confucius states how we should all strive to obtain good through knowledge and helping others.As per Lao Tsu, if dutiful devotion starts after a contention has happened in a family, this is conflicting with the genuine idea of being obedient. This suggests activity to rectify a circumstance: activity that isn't working out easily from the heart.

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In the event that common dutiful devotion were communicated in the family from the earliest starting point, anger would have no way to emerge. Dutiful devotion exists not just inside the family; it likewise normally exists between individuals from the more distant family that is mankind and between all creatures that make up the universe.

In the Tao te Ching, Lao Tsu once stated, "...the Master is accessible to all individuals and doesn't dismiss anyone..." He additionally stated, "...Every being in the universe is an outflow of the Tao..." These two sections point to the acknowledgment that all individuals and all questions that make up the universe are associated.

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There exists between all creatures a normally complementary dutiful devotion that ties them together. It is through the acknowledgment of this that we can go to a more profound comprehension of what it genuinely intends to be dutiful. As per Confucius, being obedient to our folks is the most extreme articulation of regard. This is a fundamental component in acquiring the title of chun-tzu, or honorable individual.

Nonetheless, dutiful devotion is definitely not a restricted road. Guardians should likewise be dutiful to their kids and to their folks. Both parent and youngster have a characteristic position and obligation inside the family; thusly normal dutiful devotion is complementary. It is through perceiving and honing obedient devotion in the family that a man will know the proper behavior outside of the family. For in the Confucian convention, it is understood that dutiful devotion additionally exists between all creatures. To drive obedient devotion into being or to deliberately hone equal dutiful devotion would conflict with its actual nature. Obedient devotion must be unreservedly communicated for it to be genuinely figured it out. The more profound importance of dutiful devotion as saw from both Taoism and Confucianism, we may see that the two methods of insight respect obedient devotion similarly. Dutiful devotion is a basic part and is at the crossing point of the two methods of insight. We should understand this to comprehend Taoism and Confucianism all the more obviously. Foundations are seen as conflicting with nature by driving individuals to be what they really are most certainly not. Be that as it may, for the Taoist, instruction is a performance journey without dividers or limits.

The Taoist tries to comprehend the expectation of everything as it exists in the present. Rather than attempting to know each different piece, the Taoist endeavors to comprehend the entire, for the entire is the Tao. In Taoism, the key isn't to know something; the key is to comprehend it. One approaches this through self-instruction and change. This sort of instruction is likewise common; it simply should be perceived in that capacity and created to its fullest. In Confucianism, as well, it is self-instruction, and not institutional training, that is the most vital. This may appear to negate the stereo sort of the Confucian researcher who examines the works of art for quite a long time, takes the exams, and takes a shot at society, and it does. Confucius said individuals should first perceive themselves and their potential. This is at the core of Confucian teachings. Confucius trusted that with a specific end goal to think about whatever else on the planet, we should first know our selves. At that point individuals must teach themselves with respect to how they fit into their general surroundings.

Works cited

  1. Book: Confucius. (2017). The Analects of Confucius. Translated by Roger T. Ames and Henry Rosemont Jr. Ballantine Books.
  2. Book: Lao Tzu. (2018). Tao Te Ching. Translated by Stephen Mitchell. HarperOne.
  3. Book: Ivanhoe, P. J. (2002). Confucian Moral Self Cultivation. Hackett Publishing.
  4. Book: LaFargue, M. (1992). Tao and Method: A Reasoned Approach to the Tao Te Ching. SUNY Press.
  5. Journal Article: Angle, S. C. (2010). “Continuity and Change in Confucianism: A Daoist Critique.” Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 37(1), 36-52.
  6. Journal Article: Wong, D. B. (2017). “Confucianism and Taoism.” Philosophy Compass, 12(6), e12412.
  7. Journal Article: Kjellberg, P. (2008). “Confucianism and Taoism: A Comparative Study of Key Philosophy Concepts.” International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2(1), 21-27.
  8. Encyclopedia Entry: Chenyang, L. (2019). "Confucianism." In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Confucianism
  9. Encyclopedia Entry: Xiaogan, L. (2019). "Taoism." In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taoism
  10. Website: The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (n.d.). Confucius. Retrieved from https://iep.utm.edu/confuciu/
Updated: Feb 02, 2024
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Comparison Of Confucius And Lao Tzu. (2024, Feb 05). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/comparison-of-confucius-and-lao-tzu-essay

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