The Philosophy of the Daodejing

For centuries the ancient Chinese philosophical text the Daodejing Tao TeChing has fascinated and frustrated its readers. While it offers a wealth ofrich philos... » 

For centuries the ancient Chinese philosophical text the Daodejing Tao TeChing has fascinated and frustrated its readers. While it offers a wealth ofrich philosophical insights concerning the cultivation of ones body andattaining ones proper place within nature and the cosmos its teachings andstructure can be enigmatic and obscure.HansGeorg Moeller presents a clear and coherent description and analysis ofthis vaguely understood Chinese classic. He explores the recurring images andideas that shape the work and offers a variety of useful approaches tounderstanding and appreciating this canonical text. Moeller expounds on thecore philosophical issues addressed in the Daodejing clarifying such crucialconcepts as Yin and Yang and Dao and De. He explains its teachings on a varietyof subjects including sexuality ethics desire cosmology human nature theemotions time death and the death penalty. The Daodejing also offers adistinctive ideal of social order and political leadership and presents aphilosophy of war and peace.An illuminating exploration The Daodejing is an interesting foil to thephilosophical outlook of Western humanism and contains surprising parallelsbetween its teachings and nontraditional contemporary philosophies. «