Critiq.com
  On Philosophy

Taoism      Path of simplicity and subtlety.

Objectivism Philosophy of reason and reality.

Not the opposites they first appear.
Both consider existence primary over consciousness.
Both hold man competent to live by his own judgement.
And both hold a human life to be the standard of value-
Objectivism explicitly, and classical Taoism implicitly.
Neither advocates duty, faith, force, or sacrifice.
Both are reality-based and individualist.
Objectivism is fully rational.
Its value is clear.
Taoism is not.
Its value is more obsecure.

Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching "In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. Dealing with others, be gentle & kind. In speech, be true. In ruling be just. In everyday life, be competent. In action, be aware of the time and the season." 6th century B.C.

Ayn Rand's Objectivism "My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute." 20th century A.D.

Two views that span recorded history, human cultures, and the globe.
Each concerns what is good, not for society or country, but for one's self.
In both I find the soul of humanity - individualism.

© Critiq.com