Explore Taoism

While it is a popular misconception that anarchy is a political state wherein the state is in utter confusion, the political machinery does not confusion and there is chaos in the state, this however is not true. Anarchy is merely the absence of a formal government and where people rule themselves and there is a moral obligation to behave in a certain manner and to abstain from doing certain acts. One of the core principles of Taoism is anarchy. The founder of the religion Lao Tzu was strongly opposed to state interference in the lives of the people and he left China on account of such dissatisfaction.  The Tao Te Ching which is the central text of Taoism is considered to be one of the leading writings on anarchism.

Taoists like Confucians believed in the innate goodness and benevolent disposition of the human race and rejected the Christian notion of original sin. The Taoists believe that humankind could live in peace and harmony with each other and that there was no need for government interference.  The Taoists also were inclined towards nature and they believed that everything in the universe changed and one should change and adapt accordingly.

Taoism was born at a time when China was ruled by feudal lords and the system was becoming increasingly bureaucratic and that was the beginning of the codification of law.  They placed utmost importance on respecting human beings and their belief was that every person knew his place in society and that unnecessary interference by a government would only worsen things. This conflict between those who interfere and those who wish to be left to their means has continued ever since with Taoist followers believing in the ability of man to live in harmony and peacefully, thus making government interference unnecessary.