Lao Zi’s Metaethical Thought from “Te” in Tao Te Ching
Abstract
Tao Te Ching, a spiritual treasure of Lao Zi, has been searched by numerous scholars many times. However, searching for “Te” from a metaphysical perspective is rare but valuable. By looking up and analyzing “Te” in Tao Te Ching, the metaphysical definition of “Te” is a law that humans and nature obey. “Te” is related to concepts such as “Tao” and “goodness,” which reveal the hierarchical frame of the ethical subjects in Tao Te Ching, and the article also clarifies the difference between “Te” and “goodness”. Moreover, it proves that Lao Zi is a naturalist philosopher and believes “Te” originates from nature, since the source of “Te” is “Tao”, which human intention does not interfere with. Therefore, it fixes the blanket on searching for metaphysical “Te” and builds up a frame on the significant ethical subjects in Tao Te Ching, which could help people better understand and research the philosophical thoughts of Lao Zi.
References
- Xu Yuanchong. (2012)Laws Divine And Human. No. 6 North Pony Factory, Haidian District, Beijing: Wuzhou Communication Publishing House.
- Lai Yonghai. (2019) Diamond Sutra. Heart Sutra. No. 2 Cuiwei Road, Haidian District, Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.
- Bai Qiankun & Lu Qi.(2019). A Brief discussion on the embodied “virtue” in Tao Te Ching. Intelligence (28),218-219.
- Immanuel Kant.(2019) The Complete Works of Kant (Annotated). 31 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing: China Renmin University Press.
- Zhou Haichun.(2006). The concept of “Virtue” in Tao Te Ching and Chinese metaphysical Ethics. Ethics study (5), 86-91. The doi: 10.15995 / j.carol carroll nki llxyj. 2006.05.016.
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Metaethics. (Jan 24, 2023). Retrieved on (Aug 29, 2023). Retrieved from: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/metaethics/
- Chen Guying. (2020) Lao Zi Notes Today and Translates Today. Heart Sutra. No. 2 Cuiwei Road, Haidian District, Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.
- Zhang Songru, Chen Guying, Zhao Ming & Zhang Jun. (1987)Lao Zhuang Anthology. 189 Yingxiong Shan Road, Shizhong District, Jinan City, Shandong Province: Qilu Press.
- Zhao Jin. (2016). The objectivity of moral problems from the view of Mackay’s wrong theory (Ph.D. Dissertation, East China Normal University). http://libdb.csu.edu.cn:80/rwt/CNKI/https/NNYHGLUDN3WXTLUPMW4A/KCMS/detail/detai l.aspx?dbname=CDFDLAST2017&filename=1017012799.nh
- Lao Zi. (2015) Tao Te Ching. No.5788, Welfare Road, Jingyue Development Zone, Changchun City: Jilin Fine Arts Publishing House.