First, the influence of Taoist philosophy on society.
The profound philosophical significance of Taoism, through continuous inheritance and development, has played a decisive role in the long history of China. We can still find some solutions to various problems in today's society from Taoist thought.
(A) the significance of Taoism to modern society
With the tide of industrial revolution, the progress of science has brought great material satisfaction to mankind. However, in the past two centuries, due to the predatory exploitation of natural resources by human beings, the ecological balance has been destroyed, which has caused global warming and environmental pollution. Now, protecting the ecological environment has become a top priority, and the concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature has been put forward, which coincides with Taoist thought. As early as more than two thousand years ago, Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching said, "There are four domains, but no one lives there." The exposition of "Man is everywhere, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Tao, and the Tao follows the nature" and "the unity of man and nature" is also the basic starting point for Taoist thought to deal with the relationship between man and nature. Based on this basic idea, it puts forward that "heaven and earth are of the same origin and human beings are divided into three parts", and holds that human beings are also a part of nature, emphasizing "Tao is natural" and "the way of nature cannot be violated", while there is a saying in modern ecological theory that "without the strong intervention of human behavior, nature can usually exist in the best state, exert its maximum energy and efficiency, and maintain its most rationality. Therefore, people should cherish nature and keep a harmonious relationship with it. Human activities will inevitably affect the environment, and will also react on ourselves through the environment. Therefore, we must conform to the objective laws of nature in order to achieve "everlasting". If heaven and earth can last for a long time, they can live forever because they are not born. "
(B) the significance of Taoism to modern science
The history professor of Anhui University pointed out that "(Tao) is an important ideological basis for the development of ancient science and technology in China. The natural ontology and cosmology of Taoist philosophy may be closer to the scientific truth revealed by the micro and macro fields of modern physics than any ancient philosophy. The spirit of doubt and intuitive knowledge advocated by Taoism is also one of the important thinking methods in modern natural science research, and it is considered to be the most attractive and free and creative modern thinking mode. " With the development of modern science, human beings make rational use of natural laws and turn them into productive forces, which improves our quality of life and promotes our enthusiasm for continuing to study natural laws. At this point, we can also appreciate the love of ancient Taoism for nature in Taoist thought. Life science, for example, has evolved on the basis of qigong, health preservation and medicine at home. Modern people also pursue the scientific way of keeping in good health, that is, following the laws of nature. The thoughts of "quietness", "returning to simplicity", "conforming to nature" and "harmony without difference" in Taoist thought have great influence and promotion on TCM health preservation, which is the embodiment of this thought. The combination of form and spirit advocated by it coincides with the definition of health in modern medicine, that is, physical and mental health. It can be seen that Taoist thought is scientific and conducive to inspiring scientific research. Until today, it still continues as an important philosophical thought. Contemporary people's research on it is conducive to the further development of social science, especially philosophy. In this sense, Taoist thought also promoted the development of science.
(C) the significance of Taoism to the modern economy
The core of Taoist thought is "inaction". In Tao Te Ching, there is a saying that "heaven and earth are heartless, and everything is a grass dog", which embodies a philosophical thought of "inaction", that is, "natural inaction" means conforming to the original development law of things and not forcibly interfering with or changing the development process of things, which is undoubtedly an important enlightenment for politicians under the market economy. In economic activities, politicians should not interfere excessively. It has been pointed out that Laozi's Tao Te Ching is also a management book from the perspective of enterprise management. It is one of the earliest management classics in the world, and many entrepreneurs regard it as a management classic. For enterprises, the idea of "inaction" provides us with a new management model-"soft management", which is very beneficial to the long-term development of enterprises. On the other hand, Taoism advocates the ideas of "getting something for nothing" and "being selfish and unprofitable", and understanding these ideas is conducive to preventing and controlling all kinds of individualism and money worship ills under the market economy. This has reference significance for moral construction under the current market economy.
Second, the enlightenment of Taoist philosophy to life and health
The pursuit of life and health includes two aspects: first, mental health can provide rich spiritual food for life; Second, a healthy body and a strong physique can truly experience the process of life. The profundity of Taoist thought lies in its profound enlightenment to people's mental health and physical health.
(A) the important enlightenment of Taoism to modern people's mental health
Taoism regards enlightenment as the highest value goal of life, and the characteristics of Taoism are "simplicity" and "Tao is often nameless and simple" (Chapter 32 of Laozi), so keeping simplicity and truth is the core content of Taoist values. "Truth" and "simplicity" are uncut natural states, that is, the essence and stipulation of things themselves. Starting from this value goal, Taoism emphasizes that people have their own natures, act according to their natures, and act according to their abilities: "Big and small, suit their needs" ("Notes on Huai Nan Zi"), "What sex can do has to be done; What sex can't do can't be forced "(Guo Xiang: Notes on Zhuangzi's Foreign Things). From the Taoist point of view, it is not enough to care about secular honor and disgrace. As long as everyone knows and shows his "true nature", does things according to his own nature and talent, and does his duty, he will get the meaning of life. This is the return of human nature at a higher level, and it is "the fusion of self and self" (Hegelian language). The modern significance of Taoism has found a quiet spiritual harbor for people in the fierce competition of "prosperity for profit, prosperity for profit", which undoubtedly opens up a much better spiritual world than the real world for those who "strive for fame and fortune" in today's society, and also gives people spiritual satisfaction outside the material world. The value pursuit of Taoism, such as non-contention, non-existence, gentleness and tranquility, is the deepest insight into life and contains rich philosophy. In a society full of desires, we can maintain a unique peace of mind and a confident and optimistic attitude, and finally achieve the transcendence of "the husband is invincible, so the world can't compete with him" and "you don't want to be quiet, the world will decide". In addition, Zhuangzi's thought of carefree travel boldly criticizes secular ideas, which not only helps people broaden their minds and horizons, thus breaking the spiritual shackles and getting rid of traditional ideas and secular troubles, but also provides people with a way to melt their anguish in adversity, achieve psychological balance, and thus form a stable mentality in adversity. Zhuangzi's earnest and persistent pursuit of the carefree realm provides people with a quiet spiritual harbor and a spiritual comfort beyond material things. This is undoubtedly conducive to cultivating people's broad mind, broadening their horizons, and maintaining a good attitude in good times and adversity, so as to better settle down and work with peace of mind. As long as you have a normal heart and an open heart, you can be at ease in any situation, calm and fearless in times of crisis; You won't be bothered by honor or disgrace, and you won't be dominated by fortune or misfortune. In this way, people can be chic all their lives and become independent and noble-minded modern people.
(2) The enlightenment of Taoist health and leisure concept to contemporary people's health
In the face of advocating a healthy lifestyle, China's ancient concept of leisure and health preservation can not be ignored. Taoism has a set of thought, theory and method system of keeping in good health, which strongly promotes the development of traditional culture of keeping in good health in China and lays a theoretical foundation for keeping in good health in China. Taoism advocates health first, that is, doing things without touching practice everywhere, and calming down by getting rid of greed. The second is to practice through breathing. Third, physical training, including massage, guidance, boxing and other contents, emphasizes the front breathing and the back flexion and extension, so that breathing and trunk movements are closely linked. The fourth is Neidan. Xiuneidan can condense the essence, qi and spirit in the human body, making people clear, agile and long-lived. (3) Laozi put forward the concepts of "purity and inaction" and "returning to nature" by keeping quiet for health; Zhuangzi put forward "indifferent to nothingness" and "let nature take its course", and sorted out the methods of guiding breathing such as "Xiong Jing Shen Fu". There are many leading techniques, such as Baduanjin, Tai Ji Chuan, Xingyiquan and Bagua Boxing. These are closely related to Taoist guidance. An important thought of Taoism is advocating nature, just like Tao Yuanming's "being in the countryside", and this behavior of walking into nature is exactly the ideal leisure. Being close to nature and mountains and rivers put forward by Taoism is a higher level of returning to nature. This kind of return is people's understanding and recognition of nature from the perspective of human nature. With the help of "nature", it has become a means of people's health and leisure. As a leisure theory, the main contribution of Taoist thought is that it puts forward a positive attitude and ideal towards life. "The philosophy of life, which is composed of good physical condition supplemented by body-building methods such as nourishing qi and nourishing spirit, is not only a method of longevity, but also a realm of life". This philosophy of life has become one of the important spiritual pillars of China people's leisure view. In fact, modern "leisure" emphasizes such a taste and mood, or an ideal state of existence. It should be said that China people's leisure ideological resources and transcendental leisure realm are inseparable from Taoist health preserving theory and the pursuit of leisure posture. Taoist leisure philosophy shows China people's spiritual pursuit and aesthetic taste from one side.
Third, summary.
Taoist philosophy is of positive significance for promoting social harmony, harmony between people, harmony between man and nature, improving personal ideological and cultural health and personal life realm. Of course, as a theoretical philosophy, Taoist thought can't go beyond the limitations of the times and break through the shackles of idealism system, and its outlook on life also has an empty side. In particular, the carefree state described by Zhuangzi is just a fantasy state; The absolute freedom he pursues is not the freedom of people in reality, but the abstract freedom of pure spirit; The ideal personality he set is just in the field of people's subjective spirit, mysterious and out of reach. Leaving the objective conditions of reality and social practice and advocating inaction to the outside world can only make people get spiritual self-comfort and self-satisfaction in the illusory world, which is not conducive to people's positive progress. In the ever-changing modern society, the wisdom of the ancients can not really save the lives of modern people. Therefore, we should learn the essence from Taoist philosophy of life, turn negative factors into positive factors, face real life with exuberant optimism, and create a newer and higher realm of life in the process of modern civilization.