Taoism
As one of the two most important philosophical schools in China (the other being Confucianism) Taoism has had a huge influence on Chinese culture and Eastern philosophy. This perspective is a virtue framework because it puts an emphasis on how the character of the person in the philosophy. It does not prescribe specific ways to act, but prescribes certain character traits to have.
Tao is About Lifestyle
In the Tao Te Ching (Taoism’s main text) there are no specific virtues highlighted, rather there is a specific lifestyle, the lifestyle of the farmer. It is the dependence on the land that Taoists want people to realize, and that once we learn to integrate ourselves with nature, nature begins to depend on us as we become part of the natural cycle. The farmer works with the land and plants crops based upon the cycles of nature, not based on his personal desires: “Therefore, the wise person sets an example by emptying her mind, opening her heart, relaxing her ambitions, relinquishing her desires, cultivating her character. Having conquered her own cunning and cravings, she can’t be manipulated by anyone.” (Lao Tzu III).
The Tao (the Way) has dictated a specific way for nature to work and specific needs for each being within nature. Lao-Tzu says that society has removed us from nature because society creates desires that go past our needs. Be it knowledge that doesn’t help us enter into nature, rare foods, or superfluous material goods, society is going against the Tao. From this way of life we can extrapolate some the character traits that Taoism would say are virtuous. These include ignorance of society, a simple existence, temperance, and a concept known as wu wei, which literally means “non-action.” When the Taoists say “non-action” though, they don’t mean not acting, they mean not acting in ways contrary to nature (ie. giving into societal desires).
Virtues and the Tao
Lao Tzu justifies these virtues by claiming these are the virtues that will get us closer to the Tao. The Tao (or The Way) is the specific way that the world is meant to unfold, yet we can do nothing to cause it to unfold. We can only stand in its way. Rather through wu wei we can simply act in accordance with the Tao.
The Tao is what sets up what humans need and how they ought to act, not society. Nature sets up the character traits above as virtues because they bring us back to the needs set by the Tao. However, Lao Tzu also says that “Tao is beyond words and beyond understanding. Words may be used to speak of it, but they cannot contain it” (Lao Tzu I).
Lao Tzu doesn’t want to set a specific method for returning to nature, as doing so could end up setting up a social system that removes us from nature just as the current society is doing. The Tao is inexplicable -- all we can do is describe parts of it. Rather, we will simply “know” when we are truly following the Tao when we integrate ourselves with the land and live with the needs nature gave us, not the desires society gives us. These virtues are simply general principles that put us on the path towards the Tao, but they will not, on their own, put us on the Way.
The first reason Lao Tzu would give that we ought to cultivate these virtues is that it allows the Tao to unfold in the way it is meant to unfold. By returning to nature and living the way humans were built to life, the Tao can unfold in as it was meant to unfold with humans within that Way. However, if that reason is not enough, Lao Tzu also says that perfection (personal and natural) will come about from following the Tao: “The wise person acts without effort and teaches by quiet example. He accepts things as they come, creates without possessing, nourishes without demanding, accomplishes without taking credit.” (Lao Tzu II).
Becoming What Nature Has Intended
When the Taoist acts, he brings about perfection in nature because he is acting in a way that allows the Tao to unfold the way it is meant to unfold. This will make nature perfect because man is the only being that acts contrary to nature, so when man acts the way nature meant him to act, nature is perfected. Man is perfected because he has entered into nature. The desires that society creates can never be satiated as the knowledge of goods creates desires, these desires create more knowledge, which create more desire. Man is perfected when he returns to the Way because the needs prescribed by nature can be satiated.
Man exists with nature and nature provides him with what he needs to exist with the Tao. When man has everything he needs (as he won’t have the desires of society), he isn’t lacking in anything and is perfected. He becomes who nature has meant him to be, so he is perfected as far as he is able.
Lao-Tzu. Tao Te Ching. Any Edition.