Taoism. The Great Way. The Middle Path. This philosophy and religious tradition (pronounced Daoism, for the curious) is probably most famous in the West for being the origin of that yin-yang symbol and for inspiring some of the wisdom of Yoda, but more important, it's been a major influence on Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian cultures.
Taoism isn't necessarily the kind of thing you'd expect to come across in a sci-fi novel, but George is its living incarnation. The whole moral of The Lathe of Heaven is, if you don't walk the middle path, expect to get burned.
Questions About Philosophical Viewpoints (Taoism)
- How does Dr. Haber feel about Taoism in The Lathe of Heaven?
- How are the principles of Taoism expressed throughout The Lathe of Heaven?
- Is Taoism the only philosophy explored in The Lathe of Heaven? If not, what other philosophies are featured?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Taoism influences the actions of all of the characters in The Lathe of Heaven.
Taoism and Christianity are opposites in The Lathe of Heaven.