On the Metaphysical Motivation of Laozi's Non-morality
Weiguang Cheng
Abstract
Open-access reader
Weiguang Cheng
Abstract
Open-access reader
Lao Tzu was the first philosopher in Chinese history and the first ethicist known for his immorality. Therefore, Lao Tzu was labelled as an immoralist. But looking at the whole ethical thought system of Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu is not an immoralist, he did not completely deny morality. Although traces of denying certain human morality can be found in his "Tao De Jing", it is because he tried to lay the foundation for the natural morality he constructed, that is, "Tao" virtue; and then tried to make his metaphysical motivation, that is morality. The ideal clears away obstacles, in order to build a world of utmost virtue based on natural morality, and realize its metaphysical ideal of "small country with few people".
A significance statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.
A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.
Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Lao Tzu was the first philosopher in Chinese history and the first ethicist known for his immorality. Therefore, Lao Tzu was labelled as an immoralist. But looking at the whole ethical thought system of Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu is not an immoralist, he did not completely deny morality. Although traces of denying certain human morality can be found in his "Tao De Jing", it is because he tried to lay the foundation for the natural morality he constructed, that is, "Tao" virtue; and then tried to make his metaphysical motivation, that is morality. The ideal clears away obstacles, in order to build a world of utmost virtue based on natural morality, and realize its metaphysical ideal of "small country with few people".
Key concepts: Morality, Immorality, Metaphysics, Virtue, Ideal (ethics), Philosophy, Natural (archaeology), Epistemology