Preliminary Comparison Of Heidegger And Taoism

In the present thesis, we argue the thinking of Heidegger and Taoism (Lao-tzu and Chuang-Tzu) using the method of comparative philosophy. We think that the effective communication is inevitable because of the increasing confluence and intercourse between the western and eastern culture. Not only some universal problem can be considered deeply, but essential differences can be understood by comparison and communication.Heidegger and Lao-tzu , Chuang-Tzu pursue ultimate thinking about human being and thingness. They have plenty of reasons for denying reason, Heidegger emphasizes Being as the subject matter of philosophy. He thinks the question of "What is being?", but no answer. All traditional research on being are concerned not with Being itself, but beings. Philosophers pay so much attention to Being itself that they forget Being. The distinction between being and entities is prior to the traditional distinction between being as essence and being as existent. For Heidegger himself, Being is the Being of entities, but it is not a kind of entity itself. Rather it determines entities as entities. He believes that the meaning of Being can be understood through Dasein.Lao-tzu and Chuang-Tzu concern with Tao and spontaneity .They think unity with the universe, achieved by the simple, uncomplicated life with minimal desires and maximum absorption in spontaneity. They advance people a style of life in the world of Tao. For them the mind, not the brain, is the organ of thought. Most men use it plan ahead, but the sages act on Tao and spontaneity. Taoism influences on Heidegger' s thinking of the Thing. In the lecture "The Thing " presented the jug as an example of a thing, that is characterized by self-standing, and differs from an object. Heidegger was influenced by Taoism. He not only intellectually understands Tao, but experiences the essence of it.