Chinese Philosophy

¶ … Chinese philosophers differ greatly from those of the Western world in that the basis of their argument is usually based on Confucius. Later philosophers who attempt to dispel the strong influence of Confucius had to measure up to his philosophy. Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu are two such followers who attempted to change the concept by explaining that all things in nature in this world are interdependent.

The leader of the Taoist faction, Lao Tzu believes in the Great One as the fundamental pillar for all life activities and that all fundamentals are linked with each other. For example substance and function; humaneness and righteousness are as important and that loving the people is just as important as following the governing state. Chuang Tzu too offers similar explanation by saying that development of one's nature is linked with Nature. Man and nature therefore has to interact in order to achieve fulfillment.

They need to realize that in order to please their inner self they have to please others. Both the philosophers thus linked the relationship between the environment and the individual, a concept that we commonly know today as the yin and the yang. Another aspect of the two Taoists' philosophy is the belief that all things are equal and exist in harmony. Chuang Tzu for instance believes that everything in life can run in two courses side by side whether they are cardinal or practicality.

Furthermore they also rationalize that although the destination is the same but the elements that drive the individuals can be different but the result is always balanced. The belief stems from the fact that those things which are beyond the world is not usually discussed by people because people are not aware of it; whereas those things which are within the world are events or experience that people can recall but are not in their control.

As a result one can say that things within this world run a natural course therefore one cannot pass judgment in either case. Equality therefore in Chuang Tzu's view is the principle of Tao because he says there are no "this and that" and that everything is created with opposites qualities but they are not actually opposite each other because their qualities are finite. And it is on this basis that one can understand the concept of a wise person. According to the Taoist doctrines a.