Comparing The Confucian Analects, The Mengzi And The Daodejing Of Laozi

The phrase “the way” means a method by which one can achieve a goal, but is ambiguous and insignificant without proper context. In warring states China “The Way” or the “Dao” became extremely popular as a philosophy of governance as rulers began struggling to maintain order and peace within their respective states. In this paper I will analyze different interpretations of the “Way”. As products of subjective human thought, these “Ways” incited debate between philosophers and rulers as to who’s “Way” was correct. This created what I would call a trail of influence, where in, the early Chinese thinkers I evaluate formulate their own thoughts but are also influenced by the thoughts of those that preceded them. I will examine and compare the Confucian Analects, The Mozi, the Mengzi and the Daodejing of Laozi. By tracing the trail of influence from Confucius to Laozi, the ideas that provide context for Laozi’s influential treatise on “The Way” and it’s respective differences will become apparent. I will utilize this evidence to prove why we should be interpreting “The Ways” of Laozi and other texts as tools for dealing with the context of their environment.

The Analects is a collection of Confucius’ dialogues and sayings with his students who’s content focuses on how to live and prosper within the context of his day. Though Confucius did not belong to the ruling class, his ideas are been regarded as influential for the among rulers during the warring states period because Confucius offered a way to maintain harmony within society.

The Confucian “Way” can be interpreted in many ways but I think the two main pillars of it are Confucius’s belief in situational morality, and his belief in the inherent good of human beings.

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...ine righteousness of the respective thinkers beliefs.

In conclusion, what is the way? Is there one way? Is the way attainable? The way is a socially constructed ambiguous ideal serves as a rhetorical device that can manipulate readers in order to promote the goals of a given philosopher or ruling authority. Much like modern religion each “Way” examined alludes to some metaphysical force, that is attainable if one follows the way. In warring states China the agenda for most rulers was to achieve peace and prosperity for themselves and their people, but also to maintain their own power. And so what is the way? It is all of the above, but maybe what connects them all is basic instinct, the inert human drive for self preservation and “The Way” is just our attempt to cling onto that hope and evolutionary need to preserve our humanity, especially in the darkest of times.