The Research On Laozi's Eco-ethical Thought

This dissertation discussed the main content of Laozi's eco-ethical thoughtfrom four aspects, including "myriad things equality", "Dao following nature","taking no action then everything can be done", "three treasures thought". Dao is theorigin of the world. Dao has produced myriad things and treats them equally withoutany differences, so myriad things are equal. The human being is just an ordinarymember in the nature. They are not certainly nobler than other living things. Dao isthe rules of how things develop. "Dao following nature" requests human beingsfollowing nature in essence. It requests the person do things according to the naturallaw. "Taking no action then everything can be done" contains two implications.Firstly, just taking no action, then has the chance to do everything successfully. Itrequests people to inquire into the natural law which hides behind the world and dothings according to the natural law. Secondly, if a person takes no action, he shoulddo everything which should be done. It requests people to abandon own greed. Laozihas three treasures. They are magnanimity, frugality and humility to be the last ofthe world.The dissertation introduced three schools of the modem westernnon-anthropocentric ecological ethics. They are animal's liberation and right,biocentrism and eco-centrism. The dissertation compared them with Laozi's eco-ethical thought to find five common points between them.The dissertation revealed the practical significance of studying Laozi's eco-ethical thought. It is helpful to transform the view of consumption and development,and helpful to transform the character of civilization. Studying Laozi's eco-ethicalthought is helpful to build the harmonious society in which people get along withthe nature friendly.