Philosophy - Taoism Philosophical Principles Term Paper

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In contemporary life, the Taoist moral rule is useful as an appropriate guide for reciprocating for moral behavior in kind while prohibiting the harshness inherent in the human impulse for revenge that tarnishes the character of the initial recipient of immoral conduct (Russell 1992).

Empathy and Social Concern:

Taoists believe that the appropriate neighborly perspective is to rejoice at the good fortune of neighbors and to experience sorrow in response to a neighbor's loss.

This contradicts some of the negative human reactions evident in many societies in which individuals are more likely to take perverse pleasure in the plight of others as encompassed by the notion that "misery loves company." This Taoist perspective is useful in contemporary life because ultimately, sharing in other's pleasures and empathizing with their disappointments is more conducive to the natural interconnectedness between individuals that creates a harmonious social fabric.

Intellectual Perspective:

Taoism emphasizes the notion that the human intellect is fundamentally insufficient to comprehend the ultimate meaning of life and nature. It specifically cautions against overvaluing the apparent wisdom represented by conventional education and by the eloquence of the speaker, reminding us that "...

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A man is not reckoned wise because he speaks skillfully" (Capra 1991). This suggestion is useful in contemporary life because it helps us resist the impulse of overconfidence by reminding us how much information remains unknown. Likewise, it reminds us that verbal eloquence is sometimes used as a deliberate masking of ignorance or reflects the need to establish dominance over others more than it evidences actual expertise, necessarily. The Concept of Change:

Taoists teach that change results not from the direct product of forces; rather, change is an inherent property of the natural world just as qi represents the natural flow of energy and yin-yang the natural relationship of opposing influences. This perspective is useful in contemporary life because it reminds us that even undesirable changes are merely parts of a larger cycle in which change is inevitable (Capra 1991). Instead of obsessing on life's disappointments, this helps us better cope with temporary setbacks. REFERENCES

Bowker, J. (1997) the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. New York: Oxford.

Capra, F. (1991) the Tao of Physics. Boston, MA: Shambhala

Russell, B.….....

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