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Nature and the Tao

Nature and the Tao. Taoism (Daoism). Both a religion ( daojiao 道教 ) and a philosophy ( daojia 道家 ) Taoism as religion Folk religion origin Polytheistic: nature and ancestor spirits and pantheon of gods Influence of Buddhism: nuns, temples (also influenced Buddhism – especially Zen Buddhism)

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Nature and the Tao

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  1. Nature and the Tao

  2. Taoism (Daoism) Both a religion (daojiao 道教) and a philosophy (daojia道家) Taoism as religion • Folk religion origin • Polytheistic: nature and ancestor spirits and pantheon of gods • Influence of Buddhism: nuns, temples (also influenced Buddhism – especially Zen Buddhism) • Traditional emphasis on living a long life/obtaining immortality (in this world) Taoism as philosophy • Emphasis on teachings of Laozi (老子) and Zhuangzi (莊子)

  3. The Dao (Tao) The Dao: the way, a guide, a path The Great Dao/Constant Dao • Laws of the universe • Constant change • Nothing can go against the Great Dao • 道可道，非常道 Dao ke dao, fei chang dao: -- the dao that can dao (or be daoed) is not the constant dao -- the dao that can be spoken is not the constant dao -- the dao that can guide is not the great dao

  4. Little daos (human dao/natural dao) ways, paths everything has its dao following your dao is following your nature The paradox of Taoism Two ways to look at the paradox: 1) Nothing can go against the Great Dao The dao that can guide is not the Great Dao So, it is unnecessary to strive to be natural: you can’t go against nature. 2) To tell people to follow the dao (i.e. little daos) is to instruct people to be natural – but being natural is obeying your instincts, not following instructions. (The dao that can be spoken/taught is not the constant dao)

  5. Ethical principles Natural is good. Harmony with nature, finding and following your natural dao, is the way to live a long and happy life Wu-wei • non-action, or action without striving • be like water or a supple tree (flowing and flexible) or like a clod of earth or an uncarved block (simple and unsophisticated) Peaceful and non-violent Individualistic and anti-government

  6. Environmental Implications • Nature is good and natural processes are respected. • Harmonious sustainable relationship with nature is sought. • Animals and plants all their own daos and their own role in the Great Dao. • Consumerism and all types of material greed are devalued, thus harm to the environment should be minimized. But: • Can be fatalistic and passive. • Non-action may minimize environmental problems, but unlikely to help solve environmental crises (i.e. not very compatible with activism)

  7. Reading for next week Required: Des Jardins, Environmental Ethics (2001), Chapter 2, pgs.15-36, handed out in class

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