LAO TZU
Matthew X
profrv at nex.net.au
Thu Apr 22 17:57:06 PDT 1999
http://www.greenanarchist.org.uk/Laotzu.htm
It is difficult to describe what anarchism is. It is a kind of political
philosophy. But it has no founder, no standard texts, no political party
associated with it. And it is hardly ever discussed by philosophers
themselves. As a political movement it is seen by historians as primarily a
radical response to industrial capitalism, which developed in Europe
towards the middle of the last century. Yet as a social perspective
anarchism has a much longer history. Kenneth Rexroth, for example, in his
book 'Communalism' traces the history and development of the many attempts
that have been made throughout recorded history to establish an organic
community based on non-coercive relationships. For that is what is meant by
anarchy, not chaos or disorder. The aims and ideas behind these attempts -
like that of the Digger movement - were always expressed through published
writings - sermons, analects, dialogues, political tracts, mystical
writings and the like. These writings of course have historical interest;
but they are also important to us in helping us to formulate alternatives
to the ideologies of contemporary capitalism - whether of the liberal or
statist kind.
One of the earliest of such writings is the short mystical tract entitled
'Tao Te Ching'. It was written by a Chinese sage called Lao Tzu (the 'old
philosopher')
Etc.
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