Compare and contrast Confucianism with Taoism.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST CONFUCIANISM WITH TAOISM

Confucianism . Kung Fu Tzu (Confucious ) was the founder of Confucian Philosophy that believed that in times of a violent social change , `li or tradition can return society to its original , stable state . This will allow society to accept only what would benefit it . `Li ' can also train even the lowest person to become a ruler , because through rituals and education , he can follow a model . This is the ultimate form of human development

Taoism . `Tao ' means the way or path . This philosophy was founded by

Lao Tze . This is about man 's search for his place and fulfilling his role in the natural scheme of things . To go beyond this role , for the Taoists , is to cause chaos , frustration and a sense of the incomplete To discover our place in the `Tao Te Ching (The Way and Its Power ) we must look inside ourselves and nature for the answer . Another very important teaching of Taoism is the `Wu Wei ' or doing nothing , applied it means letting things take their natural course

Similarities (1 ) Both Philosophies believed in the Doctrine of the Golden Mean , that if a condition turned into the extreme , it will turnaround . This gives hope and courage to persevere (2 ) Both schools of thoughts seek Knowledge or Education . For Confucianism it is the means for a person to see his place in the of things and for Taoism it is empowering (3 ) Confucianism and Taoism both seek harmony in the world . For Confucianism it is through its ethical teachings and for Taoism it is through the `Wu Wei

Differences (1 ) Conventions . Confucianism believed that children ought to learn the rules and ethics of society that are important as well as necessary in life . For Taoism it must the old people who should recover the natural conduct of society before it was by new norms (2 ) The `Tao ' In Confucianism , the Tao of Man is the right path to a moral life and in Taoism , it is the cosmic way and process or the natural

Confucianism and Taoism are more complimentary than contradictory They have been a great part of the Chinese mind and culture , that a person is not complete if he has one but without the other

References

Capra , Fritjof (1995-2001 . The Tao of Physics : Chinese Thought Confucianism and

Taoism . Retrieved February 1 , 2007 , from

http /www .shotokai .cl /otras_artes /china .html

Taoism and Confucianism . Retrieved February 1 , 2007 from

http /www .geocites .com /Timesquare /Arcade /2365

Robinson , B .A (July 4 , 2004 . Confucianism : Founded by K 'ung Fu Tzu . Retrieved February 1 , 2007 , from

http /www .religioustolerenace ,org /confuciu .htm

Robinson , B .A (October 9 , 2006 . Taoism (a .k .a Daoism ) Western Traditions

Retrieved February 1 , 2007 from

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