Midterm Synthesis Paper One(1)

What is Philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he perceives the philosophical problem?

“Contentment” is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he perceives the philosophical problem.

I can say that contentment is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he perceives the philosophical problem because wanting more is the problem. In the Tao Te Ching 46:5-7 (Gia Fu Feng & Jane English) “There is no greater sin than desire, No greater curse than discontent, No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself”, we can see or tell that wanting more or having a great desire is the problem. In “There is no greater sin than desire” when wanting something or desiring something, it will make you do a thing that will make you sinful or you will make a thing than is not good. Like when you desire to be rich but you don’t have the capacity to be rich. You will do so many bad things that will make you rich, even the things that you will do is bad and can harm others.

In “There is no greater curse than discontentment”, it is like in the first sentence of the Tao Te Ching 46:5-7. When one has no contentment in his/herself, he/she will become discontent with what he/she has and if one is discontented with what he/she has, he/she will do a thing that would satisfy him/her even it is bad. While when a man has contentment or if a man is contented with what he she has. He will not do things or bad things that would suffice his wants and being contented will make you not to desire more because desiring more will make you harm others or do bad things.

In “There is no greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself” when one is contented with what he or she has, he/she will not desire more or desire bigger for oneself and when one is not desiring more or bigger for oneself, he/she will not be put in danger or in bad situation while when one is wanting more or big for oneself, he/she will be put in danger because of the desire to become something big.

In Tao Te Ching 75 (Gia Fu Feng & Jane English) “Why are people starving? Because the ruler eats up the money in taxes; therefore the people are starving. Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much; therefore they are rebellious. Why do the people thing so little of death? Because the rulers demand too much of life; therefore the people take death lightly. Having little to live on, one knows better than to value life too much” in this verse, we can see or tell that the root of the disorder is discontentment or wanting more or too much. When one is discontented with what he/she have or if one wants too much. He/she will not think of others anymore whether he/she can harm others by his actions or not, because he/she only thinks of himself and he/she desires more and not being contented with what he/she have.

Therefore, “Contentment” is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he perceives the philosophical problem.