Tao Te Ching
Write an essay of 1300 words on the topic you choose.
1. How does Lao-tzu describe and criticize human behaviour and attitudes in chapters 2, 9, 12, 16, 24, 30, 47, 64. Assess the strength of these criticisms and Lao-tzu’s recommendations for change.
2. There are well over a hundred different English translations of the Tao Te Ching. You should not assume that any single translation of the text is definitive.
From the following six translations of the first chapter, choose two translations and compare them to the course translation by Addiss and Lombardo. As you compare, note significant differences and explain how these translations might affect our understanding of the Tao, the world, and ourselves.
