Both Confucianism and Daoism promote the idea that non doing (wu-wei) gives rise to practical good, or
usefulness. The difference between them is that whereas Confucianism contends that non doing is achieved
through self-cultivation, Daoism contends that non doing is achieved through the emptying of the self. Discuss
the connections each system of thought makes between the self, non doing, and use. Who would you argue is
more apt to produce real good in the world: the Confucian or the Daoist good man?
Sample Solution
