The Nature and Dialectical Relation of Laozi's "Taoism" and "Virtue"

Laozi's Taoism mainly refers to the origin of the world,the noumenon that determines everything,and the essential law of motion and change of the universe while his Virtue,in its broad sense,refers to moral character by which things go along Taoism,and in its narrow sense,means a man's moral character in his adherence to Taoism.Nature is the intrinsic characteristic of Laozi's Taoism and Virtue.Taoism gives birth to all things and Virtue raises them.Taoism can be used by Virtue;the two are dialectically united into one in all things in the universe. The principal implication of Laozi's philosophy is to base Virtue on Taoism,and embody Taoism through Virtue.Laozi's presupposition and statement of Taoism reveals his metaphysic view on the theoretical thinking of philosophy;Laozi's delineation and prescription of Virtue mark a downward direction in philosophy in terms of his concern of practice.