Philosophy of man by lao tzu biography examples

A man cloaked in mystery, this venerable sage is a pillar of Chinese thought, renowned as the founder of Taoism with a concise but intellectual text — the Tao Te Ching.

Lao tzu contribution to philosophy

In this article, LotusBuddhas and you will find out who Lao Tzu is, and what his teachings are about! Lao Tzu, also spelled as Laozi, is a seminal figure in Chinese philosophy, credited as the founder of Taoism, one of the major philosophical systems of thought that have shaped East Asian culture and history. Traditionally, Lao Tzu is believed to have lived in the 6th century BCE, contemporary to Confucius, though there is ongoing scholarly debate about his precise historical existence and timeline.

Several traditional accounts depict Lao Tzu as a wise and older contemporary or even a mentor to Confucius, a narrative that underscores the symbolic representation of Lao Tzu as the herald of an ancient wisdom predating the more rational and humanistic doctrines of Confucianism. However, it is important to note that most of the information we have about Lao Tzu comes from later texts and legends, which offer conflicting accounts of his life.

Some scholars suggest that Lao Tzu may not have been a single historical figure, but rather a synthesis of several individuals and their ideas, conflated over time under the moniker of this iconic sage. In more recent times, these ideas have also found global appeal, making Lao Tzu an enduringly influential figure in world philosophy.

Tao The Way : Tao, the primary and most complex concept in Taoist philosophy, is an unfathomable cosmic force that pervades and guides the universe, transcending conventional dichotomies and distinctions. It is, in essence, the fundamental nature of existence, an underlying principle that cannot be entirely grasped or described with language.

It encourages natural action, free from forced effort or undue intervention. This concept underscores the naturalness, simplicity, and spontaneity that aligns with Tao.