The Tao Te Ching comes down hard on warfare, basically saying that war is awful and ultimately pointless since it only causes more war down the line. We can also take all of the TTC's anti-war stuff and apply to our own lives.
The TTC will tell you that punching a dude in the face might feel good in the moment, but more than likely he's coming at you tomorrow with a two-by-four. All that said, it's a mistake to say that the Tao Te Ching is completely and totally pacifist. While it strongly advises against war, it's also chock-full of tips on how to win one.
Questions About Warfare
- What are some of the qualities that the Tao Te Ching says make a good general of an army?
- In the TTC, what's a surefire way to lose a battle?
- What is the TTC's view on how an army should treat a victory?
- Do you think the TTC and the NRA would get along? Why or why not?
Chew on This
While the Tao Te Ching advises against war, it also shows how the wu wei can be used to win them.
The Tao Te Ching contradicts itself when it advises against people having weapons, but later says that the people of a small country be well-armed.