# How does Tao Te Ching develop the theme of Critique of Conventional Virtue?

> Tao Te Ching by Laozi

## Answer

Tao Te Ching by Laozi develops Critique of Conventional Virtue across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The book critiques Confucian virtues like benevolence, righteousness, and propriety, arguing that they emerge only when the Tao is lost, and that they represent a decline from a more natural, unselfconscious state of harmony.

Legge discusses the opposition between Taoism and Confucianism, highlighting Taoism's critique of Confucian moral and social principles.

Chuang-tzŭ's condemnation of Huang Ti for disturbing the 'State of Perfect Unity' suggests a critique of conventional governance and virtue.

Chuang-tzŭ satirizes Confucians and Mohists, exposing their doctrines through metaphorical illustrations.

## Evidence

- [preface-by-james-legge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/preface-by-james-legge.md): Legge discusses the opposition between Taoism and Confucianism, highlighting Taoism's critique of Confucian moral and social principles.
- [was-taoism-older-than-laozi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/was-taoism-older-than-laozi.md): Chuang-tzŭ's condemnation of Huang Ti for disturbing the 'State of Perfect Unity' suggests a critique of conventional governance and virtue.
- [accounts-of-laozi-and-chuang-tz-given-by-ss-ma-ch-ien](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/accounts-of-laozi-and-chuang-tz-given-by-ss-ma-ch-ien.md): Chuang-tzŭ satirizes Confucians and Mohists, exposing their doctrines through metaphorical illustrations.
- [part-i-v](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/part-i-v.md): Heaven, Earth, and sages do not act from benevolence (jen), treating all things and people as straw dogs—an impersonal, non-interventionist approach that critiques conventional moralizing.
- [part-i-xviii](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/part-i-xviii.md): The chapter argues that benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, and loyalty emerge only after the Great Tao is abandoned, implying these conventional virtues are signs of decline.
- [part-i-xix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/part-i-xix.md): The chapter directly calls for discarding sageness, wisdom, benevolence, and righteousness as harmful to the people.
- [part-i-xxxi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/part-i-xxxi.md): The chapter subverts conventional martial honor by associating victory with mourning and treating weapons as instruments of evil, challenging societal norms about war.
- [part-ii-xxxviii](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxviii.md): The chapter deconstructs benevolence, righteousness, and propriety as inferior substitutes when the Tao is lost.

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