Harmony and Virtue: A Comparative Exploration of Lao Tzu and Aristotle on Action and Inaction

THESIS

This comparative essay on the perspectives of Lao Tzu and Aristotle on action and inaction aims to highlight the differences in their perspectives and emphasize the need for a balanced, ethical system consisting of the philosophies of both these sages.

ABSTRACT

This essay offers A critical analysis of Aristotle’s perception of action and Lao Tzu’s philosophy on inaction as it compares their arguments. Lao Tzu’s Wu Wei concept encourages people against forcing their visions on their perceptions of things upon the world,. The virtue ethics devised by Aristotle, is a quest for understanding and living a life of moral character. These philosophies have been shaped by the environment that both Lao Tzu and Aristotle have been exposed to throughout their lives,. This comparative study highlights the convergence and divergence of their philosophies.

EXTENSIVE OUTLINE:

Introduction

• Hook– Aristotle and Lao Tzu are well-known and revered key figures in philosophy since they offer a massive contribution to this field regarding human behavior and inactivity.
• Background Information– Lao Tzu emphasizes peaceful non-action that aligns with the cosmos, while Aristotle draws his motivation from virtues as a way through which humanity could achieve eudaimonia (Zagris, 2022; Chan, 2015).
• Claims– While Aristotle emphasizes that people show actions motivated by virtues, Lao Tzu acknowledges that people should go with the flow, controlling whatever is within their power.
• Thesis Statement– This essay presents a comparative analysis of Lao Tzu’s and Aristotle’s perspectives on action and inaction, highlighting the differences in their perspectives.

Lao Tzu’s Perspective on action and inaction

• Topic Sentence 1– Lao Tzu presents the idea of Wu Wei stating that instead of fighting against the flow of nature, the way of life should be acceptance and active participation.
  • Supporting evidence– Lao Tzu’s philosophy of non-action urges people to be spontaneous (Xiong and Yucui, 2023).
• Topic Sentence 2– Wu Wei is an active engagement with the natural cycles involving the ups and downs we experience.
  • Supporting Statement- Lao Tzu encourages people to be spontaneous, and he followed the teachings as best as he could (Fraser, 2007).
• Topic Sentence 3- Lao Tzu also emphasizes the interdependence between people and the universe, helping people who engage in Wu Wei.

Aristotle’s Perspective on action and inaction

• Topic Sentence 1– Aristotle is referred to as the father of Western logic since their reasoning is primarily attributed to him.
  • Supporting Statement- He is mainly revered for his observation that the structure of any statement can be used to determine its truthfulness rather than the content within the statement (Roscoe, 2015).
• Topic Sentence 2- Aristotle’s viewpoint challenges the argument of inaction, urging people to take steps guided by virtue to have fruitful lives.
  • Supporting Statement- Virtue ethics is a system that calls forth people to focus on virtuous actions (LeBar, 2002) primarily.
• Topic Statement 3– The aspect of action that Aristotle vouches for is in line with his teleological view of nature, which suggests that every human being has a purpose and an end.
  • Supporting Statement- Aristotle encourages people to have goals and be driven.

Critique of Both Philosophies

• Topic Sentence 1– Lao Tzu’s concept of Wu Wei has faced much criticism over the years.
  • Supporting Statement- Critics have argued that placing emphasis on inaction or educating people to focus on inaction leads to people being slow to address issues they face.
• Topic Sentence 2– Aristotle also faces criticism about the concept of virtue ethics.
  • Supporting Statement- What a specific community in the West considers virtuous may not be what another community considers to hold the same weight in terms of morality (Shah, 2023).

Synthesis of Perspectives

• Topic Sentence– The critique on the Lao Tzu and Aristotle philosophies regarding action and inaction asksasks people to explore the connection between these two sages’ perspectives on life.
  • Supporting Statement– Finding a balance between these philosophies can lead to their growth in all aspects of life.

Conclusion.

• Summary- Synthesizing the perspective of Aristotle and Lao Tzu brings forth a nuanced and adaptive approach that people can employ in dealing with challenges.

Introduction

Aristotle and Lao Tzu are well-known and revered key figures in the world of philosophy since they offer a massive contribution to this field regarding human behavior and inactivity. Lao Tzu, who is said to have been alive around the fourth and fifth century BC, is of Chinese descent, and his philosophy emphasizes peaceful non-action that is in line with the cosmos (Chan, 2015). Comparably, Aristotle said to have lived around 384 B.C.E.—322 B.C.E., has his origin in Greece and his philosophy advocated for deliberate behaviors drawing motivation from virtues as a way through which humanity could achieve eudaimonia (Zagris, 2022). There are differences in the philosophical perspectives of Aristotle and Lau Tzu. For instance, Aristotle places his belief and emphasizes that people show actions motivated by virtues,. At the same time, Lao Tzu acknowledges that people should go with the flow, controlling whatever is within their power and leaving the rest to chance and finding a balance between the perspectives of these sages is essential in our day to day lives. This essay presents a comparative analysis of Lao Tzu and Aristotle’s perspectives on action and inaction, highlighting the differences in their perspectives.

Lao Tzu’s Perspective on Action and Inaction

Daoism is a religion and way of life estimated to have been founded in the 6^th century, rooting from the eastern Chinese province of Henan (Raz, 2012). Lao Tzu is the founder of Daoism, a religion that presents the idea of Wu Wei stating that instead of fighting against the flow of nature, the way of life should be accepted and active participation by the flow of existence (Vincent, 2013). His philosophy urges people to be spontaneous, encouraging people to act in accordance with the way life goes without expecting life to follow a particular path or fighting against the natural order of things (Xiong and Yucui, 2023). It acts as an embrace of an artistic manner through which people interact with the outside world and how they constantly face situations that they are bombarded with. This philosophy, as presented by Lao Tzu, is usually referred to as non-action (Yao and Jun, 2017).

Wu Wei means ‘non-doing or ‘doing nothing’, and it is an expression of alignment with Dao, an active engagement with the natural cycles involving ups and downs we experience instead of constantly withdrawing from currents experienced with life’s troubles. Lao Tzu encouraged people to be spontaneous, and he followed the teachings as best as he could (Fraser, 2007). He encouraged people to analyse situations critically and put effort where their power lay while withdrawing effort from situations out of their control. This can be compared to a musician, who understands that there is a specific time whenhe is to hit a certain chord and let go of that chord to bring out the expected tune. This philosophy brought forth by Lao Tzu is commendable since it contradicts the viewpoints of the West that a meaningful life is created through deliberately acting upon situations. It argues that when people constantly chase their goals, the natural balance of life is upset, which causes suffering to the people in a constant battle for success. According to Wu Wei, such a situation is one where people deviate from nature’s state of balance as they always work towards controlling and manipulating outcomes in their lives.

Lao Tzu also emphasizes the interdependence between people and the universe, helping people who engage in Wu Wei to be more attuned to nature’s flow and create a sense of inner peace and unity within them. The connection that Lao Tzu has established with the universe guides people’s moral behavior. It also acts as a means of dissolving people’s egos, allowing them to become one with the universe (Wenning, 2013).

Aristotle’s Perspective on Action and Inaction

Aristotle is referred to as the father of Western logic since their reasoning is primarily attributed to him. One of the reasons why he is revered is his interesting observation that the structure of any statement can be used to determine its truthfulness rather than the content within the statement (Roscoe, 2015). This can be explained through the statement since all men are mortal. Therefore I am mortal. Aristotle’s philosophy contrasted with Lao Tzu’s philosophy,, which urged people to go with the flow, since he strongly believed that the only way humans could achieve a state of happiness was through taking purposeful activities led by certain virtues.

His viewpoint challenges the argument of inaction urging people to take steps guided by virtue to have fruitful lives. Virtue ethics is a system that calls forth people to primarily focus on virtuous actions such as courage, justice, wisdom, and character instead of focusing on singular actions (LeBar, 2002). Aristotle claims that these are not simply moral qualities but are important factors for the people who want to achieve eudaimonia. The virtues guide people in making choices that improve their general well-being and the well-being of the people they associate with.

The aspect of action that Aristotle vouches for is in line with his teleological view of nature, which suggests that every human being has a purpose and an end. He encourages people to have goals and be driven,. According to him, a life without fulfillment is only achieved when people are not intentional in their pursuit of virtues and purposeful action. For example, if someone has courage, it is not that he lacks fear, but he faces the challenges and hopes for a better outcome in his situation. Another example of virtue that Aristotle champions is wisdom, which involves people making well-thought-out decisions that contribute to their well-being for the foreseeable future.

Critique of Both Philosophies

Both Lao Tzu and Aristotle have been exposed to different environments, and this is where their viewpoints on life emanate. The philosophies that these sages embody about action and inaction have their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Lao Tzu’s concept of Wu Wei has faced much criticism over the years since it helps to breed passivity in people despite emphasizing simplicity. Critics have brought forth the argument that placing emphasis on inaction or educating people to focus on inaction leads to people being slow to address issues that they face, which can lead to further problems in the future that could have been prevented. The existence of life calls for proactive engagement in all aspects of life, and Daoism, the concept of going with the flow and letting things unfold naturally, does not help improve the state of society in areas that need improvement.

On the other hand, Aristotle also faces criticism about the concept of virtue ethics since critics argue that different cultures and historical environments can have varying definitions of what virtue is to them. What a specific community in the West considers to be virtuous may not be what another community considers to hold the same weight in terms of morality (Shah, 2023). As a result, the ethical system that Aristotle brings forth is not applicable on a universal scale,. Therefore, it cannot be applicable beyond a certain context within the culture he is accustomed to upon creating his philosophy. In addition to this, Aristotle also emphasizes intentional action, which some critics have said to be individualistic since there exist multiple complex cultures within the world. Therefore, issues within the system are at risk of being neglected by this viewpoint. Even though Aristotle’s philosophy offers valuable insights, he fails to address the collective issues that society faces.

Synthesis of both Perspectives

The critique of the Lao Tzu and Aristotle’s philosophies regarding action and inaction asks people to explore the connection between these two sages’ perspectives on life. People need to find a balance in knowing the situations that call them to action and the situations and environments in which power for change isn’t bestowed upon them. Even as the concept of Wu Wei by Lao Tzu urges people to go with the flow in letting nature run its course, it does not refute that taking action is essential. Still, it suggests that there should be a balance between natural order and spontaneous alignment. This implies that people can follow intentional actions, as presented by Aristotle through his philosophy. If people understand the situations that allow for them to be virtuous and situations that they should be interconnected with nature, it can lead to their growth in all aspects of life. A more holistic ethical system is formed with the understanding of the connection between these two philosophies when people align actions in situations that they have control over and let go of situations that they do not have control over

Conclusion

Exploring Aristotle’s philosophy on virtue ethics and Lao Tzu’s philosophy shows their perspectives regarding action and inaction and how complex human beings are and have been ever since the beginning of time. Lao Tzu’s perspective challenges the Western idea of intentional action as it urges people to go with the flow of the universe’s natural order. Aristotle’s viewpoint contrasts with Lao Tzu’s as it urges people to act towards improving the state of life they are in while considering virtue ethics. Synthesizing the perspective of these sages brings forth a nuanced and adaptive approach that people can employ in dealing with their daily challenges.

References

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Fraser, Chris. “On wu-wei as a unifying metaphor.” (2007): 97-106.

LeBar, Mark. “Justice as a Virtue.” (2002).

Raz, Gil. The emergence of Daoism: Creation of tradition. Taylor & Francis, 2012.

Roscoe, Kelly, and Mick Isle. Aristotle: The Father of Logic. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, 2015.

Shah, Dhaval. “Unleashing Wisdom and Virtue: Exploring the Teachings of Aristotle.” LinkedIn, 19 May 2023, Derived from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unleashing-wisdom-virtue-exploring-teachings-aristotle-dhaval-shah.

Vincent, S. H. E. N. “Laozi (Lao Tzu).” Encyclopedia of Chinese Philosophy (2013): 355.

Xiong, Qinjing, and Yucui Ju. “Taoism and teaching without words.” Educational Philosophy and Theory 55.4 (2023): 496-507.

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Wenning, Mario. “Daoism as Critical theory.” Constructive Engagement of Analytic and Continental Approaches in Philosophy: From the Vantage Point of Comparative Philosophy 32 (2013): 261.

Zagris, Nikolas. “Aristotle (384-322 BC): the beginnings of Embryology.” International Journal of Developmental Biology 66.1-2-3 (2022): 5-8.