Quiescence is a form of philosophical inaction and is of utmost importance to Taoism. According to Lao-Tzu, quiescence is the mark of the intellectual person and an example of this is if something bad, like an earthquake or a first-degree murder, Lao-Tzu argues that it is best to let the event take its natural course. Thus, to follow Lao's ideals one should disregard action and everything will be all right. Thus, being the modern standard of an "intellectual" or "learned person" according to Lao endangers the delicate balance between thinking and refusing to think. One who is an intellectual is thus have an imbalance because they think too much. People who write books, according to Taoism and Lao-Tzu are too curious because they begin to write to write books and discover things that should have been left to the unknown. With things being left to the element of the unknown, the world is much more peaceful. Taoism argues that one should not persist in a quest for his or her goals, but should rather wander aimlessly and not expect anything -- eventually they will achieve the desired goal or outcome.
To understand the Tao, Lao-Tzu believes it imperative one must believe in the non-being (that which is not obvious) "The Tao is empty -- it may be used to its capacity, but is never exhausted." (105) The Tao, according to it's founder, is the first cause of the universe and its force flows through all life -- it is the ultimate reality. Taoism does not have a god or supreme being, it's goal is to be harmonious with the Tao. The ultimate goal of Taoism is immortality. Taoists believe in the survival of the spirit after death -- human form is portrayed as a joy through the eyes of a Taoist because whatever is lost .....life will always endure. Thus, similar to Buddhism, birth and death are not seen as the beginning and the end. Rather, life is seen as existence without limit and continuity without a specific starting point: the soul never dies and remains eternal. As a result, when an individual passes away, the soul is not reborn, rather it migrates into another human form. This process is repeated until the soul achieves the ultimate goal - Tao. Once Tao is obtained, life on earth as a physical being is able to be transcended.
In Western culture, Taoism would not flourish because western culture places too much emphasis on the desire and need to be number one. People in western culture are overly competitive, motivated and driven, thus, with these traits valued in the Western world, Taoism would be too lax and ultimately obsolete. Modern Taoists in western society would most likely be defined as lazy and inconsiderate.
Confucius, the most influential Chinese philosopher, was born around 551 BC. He was a scholar who held minor positions in government. Confucius attempted to rise through the ranks of government, but his attempts were unsuccessful. Eventually, he became a teacher to the sons of noble families. Although Confucius always regretted his failure to achieve high political office, his teachings had an enormous impact on Chinese Civilization. Confucius spent the majority of time with his students in the hope they would come to continue his campaign to encourage high ethical standards. After his death in 479 BC, his ideas slowly won acceptance and eventually became the official philosophy of China.
Confucius was interested in ways to organize a good society. To him, a good society was one which preserved peace and order amongst the individuals and between government and the people. As a result, Confucianism emerged and offered up a code for individuals to follow in their social and political relationships. Confucius's followers kept his thoughts and teachings into a book called the Analects.
Confucian code of conduct stressed virtues such as loyalty, courtesy, hard work and kindness. If people practiced these virtues every moment of their life, Confucius believed social harmony to be the result. Confucius constructed five basic relationships defining everyone's place in society including the relationships between: ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, and friend and friend. The five relationships determine how society should be organized. In each relationship, each individual has responsibilities, or duties towards the other. Confucius reasoned that if everyone obeyed his or her duty, an orderly balanced society was the result. One example is a ruler has a responsibility to govern and provide a good government for his inhabitants. At the same time, the subject owes loyalty and respect to the ruler. Confucius moreover believed that a ruler could achieve more by setting a good example than by passing laws.
Confucius was an advocate of strong family relationships, the family was the basic unit of Chinese society. He also believed that the virtues of loyalty and respect for authority were imperative for a strong family. Confucius coined this "familial piety", or respect for one's family and elders. Although women were inferior to men, sons and daughters learned to honor their mother.
Although the Chinese philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism both culminated around 500BC, they are very distinct. In summation, Confucianism is the philosophy of social organization and practical knowledge. It provided China with a education system and also with a strict moral etiquette. Confucius embodied education in society and in his Analects (13:9), the following passage reveals his stance on education:
"How numerous people are! His disciple asked "Since they are numerous, what shall be done for them?" "Enrich them, Enrich them, Enrich them!" was the Master's reply. His disciple then replied, "And when they have been enriched, what more should be done?" The Master said, "Teach them! Teach them! Teach them!"
Confucius further education in China by eliminating discrimination and believed that there should not be discrimination in religion.
Taoism, on the other hand differs from Confucianism in that its primary concern is primarily with the observation of nature, and the discovery of the way(Tao). Human happiness to the Taoists is achieved when one follows natural order and trusts his or her intuitive knowledge. The Taoists rejected the Confucian attempts to regulate life and society. Thinking and doing as little as possible allows the Tao to be the driving force in one's life. The Taoist sage has no ambitions, and according to the philosophy, he ca therefore never fail. Thus, if one never fails, success will manifest. And, he who succeeds according to the Tao, is all powerful.
Taoism, unlike Confucianism, has elements of mysticism rooted in its doctrine. They are believed to responsible for founding the practice of Alchemy and for the ingenious invention of gunpower.
Following the eastern philosophies of Aristotle and Confucius, comes Aristotle, who's thoughts greatly influenced ancient Greek society. Aristotle and Plato were figureheads for the foundations of western thought and culture. Aristotle lived from 384 to 322 BCE. The core of Aristotle's account of moral virtue is his doctrine of the mean. According to this doctrine, moral virtues are desire-regulating character traits which are at a mean between more extreme character traits. Also, he believes that morality requires a standard which will not only regulate the inadequacies of absolute justice but be also an idea of moral progress. In other words, this conception can be looked at as laying the groundwork for a religion like Christianity - having a moral standard which regulates the inadequacies of absolute justice by following ‘Gods law'. Since absolute justice is abstract in nature, in the real world, it must be supplemented with equity, which corrects and modifies laws of justice where it falls short. Aristotle believes that the truly good person is at the same time a person of perfect insight, and a person of perfect insight is also perfectly good. Aristotle claims that our idea of the ultimate and moral action is developed through habitual experience, and this gradually frames itself out of an individual's specific perceptions -(habitual experience, environment, and particular perceptions - degree of objectivity).
When it comes to the purpose or will of morality, Aristotle mentions two factors: reason stimulated to act by desire, or desire guided and controlled by understanding. These two factors according to Aristotle, then motivate the willful moral action. Moral weakness of the will then results in someone doing wrong, knowing it is right, and yet follows his desire against his reason. So basically ones reason is what motivates a willful action, and ones desire motivates an action of moral weakness. In Comparison to Lao-Tzo and Confucius, Socrates is more structured in is arguments, offering up scenarios and the proper conduct in specific situation. Thus, Socrates has created a ethical/moral code with little room for deviation from the mean. On the other hand, both Confucianism and Taoism offer up pithy statements which are intended to push an individual towards the "good life". These pithy statements are ambiguous bits of advice in which a person must interpret and apply towards his or her own life. Thus, Taoism and Confucianism is not as controlled as Aristotelian ethics. Moreover, Taoism and Confucianism embrace time as being cyclical while the western world hold time to be of a linear nature.
Although Confucianism and Taoism were established almost 25 centuries ago, they are still relevant and continue to influence modern society. Both schools of thought together are the guiding light in almost every aspect of Chinese life. A modern view of Taoism is portrayed by Hollywould through such pop culture movies as The Phantom Menace and Star Wars -- the "force" in both movies is an excellent example of modern Taoism. Even though they are differ in their practice, the underlying foundation of Taoism and Confucianism are the same. That is, the purpose of both schools of thought is to instill morality into an individual and to help one to find the path to the "good life." Through studies of Taoism and Confucianism, the East and West, both searching for a dialogue for tomorrow's world, can learn from, and help each other. The understanding of the two eastern philosophies by the west will assist in the formation of a better, more objective world -- not though conflagration, but rather through mutual cooperation in achieving peace for the future.