The Ecosystem Ethics Thoughts Of The Taoism And Its Modern Meaning

The relation of man and nature, an old but ever new topic, is particularly concerned in world wide academic circles in the sake of strengthening consciousness of ecosystem and environmental protection and promoting a sustainable development, responding to the challenges from the rigorous fact that ecosystem environment is getting so worse as to endanger mankind's existence. In the course of explorations, Taoism, as an important part of Chinese traditional culture, is brought up to researchers' interests as it contains abundant ecosystem ethics thoughts that are thought to be the resources of special dimensions of thinking in terms of dealing with the contemporary increasing ecological crisis. Generally to say, Taoism is with the certain importance of reference and theoretical enlightenments in solving modern ecological problems. On the ground of the original "Dao" (Tao), it argues man and natural creation are equal and constitute a harnonious whole, man should adopt the attitude of "In tune with nature" to treat natural creation and make use of natural creation reasonably. The ecosystem ethics, setting out from this kind of basic thought of "the unity of man and nature", stands for " Follow Nature " not "conquer nature", thinks "Heaven" and "Human " are consistent, insists on " return to the Nature " of life aim in the meantime and the social standard of "living mutually to keep mutually", reveals "equality among all beings", "thing is not humble or honor" and "constant development" deeply. Particularly, it possesses various positive principles referring to development, such as, "know usual and know harmony " to refer to balance, "know when is enough, know when to stop " to development progress, whole consciousness of "harmonization of object and ego" to self-cultivation, "follow regulation" to practice. All these representing Taoist essentials and aims intently present and reaveal the special charm of eastern grand intelligence. So, assuredly, Taoism breaks the limit that ancient philosophy takes political ethics as core by expanding the scope of thinking to the whole cosmos and then sets up a whole idea which looks simple and limited though, such as the passivity its concepts may lead to, the possible neglect of scientific technology it sounds etc, and there are there are some inimitable values beneath in, for instance, its systematical view of the relation of man and nature, ultimate pursuit to handle a concordant relation between man and nature, thorough application of ecosystem ethics both to social life and nature concerns and so on; so that it provides realistic positive points to challenge modern social ecological crisis. Thus, it will be helpful to make a further study of then carrying forward Taoism culture in the interest of contributing to scoop out and explain the theories worth and modern meaning of Chinese traditional culture during the social sustainable development construction, in addition to boosting exchanges and cooperation of the academic researches at home and abroad and benefiting internationalization progress of Taoism culture.