The Influence of Accessibility A Comparison of the Views...

The Influence of Accessibility A comparison between Lao Tzu and Confucius, as well as that between the respective philosophies each of these individuals is believed to have propounded, is fairly natural and, in certain respects, fairly inevitable. Both scholars were believed to have existed during the same time period, from approximately the seventh through the fourth centuries B.C.E. (although it should be noted that there is an overwhelming body of evidence that indicates that Lao Tzu may not have been an actual person, whereas there is little dispute regarding Confucius tenure on earth as being between 551-479 B.C.E.). Furthermore, the philosophy attributed to each of these individuals has had a profound effect upon the Chinese culture which they were both a part of and helped to propagate; today the effects of that culture and their philosophical maunderings have even had a significant impact upon areas of Western thought. Indubitably, each respective scholar and the line of thinking advocated by him was conce rned with establishing a harmony and order with oneself, society, and the external universe. However, the philosophers differed dramatically in the approach they took to achieving these goals. Confucius took a much more systematic, pragmatic approach to achieving this end, as much of his work directly applies to mankind and its relationship with one another; Lao Tzu was much more mystic and abstract in his approach. Due to various political and moralist