{"product_id":"a-humanist-path-wei-djao-9798749511727","title":"A Humanist Path: Ancient Chinese Wisdom for Curious Walkers","description":"Confucius and Lao Zi (active around 500 BCE) were the originators of the two major philosophical traditions in China, Confucian and \u003ci\u003edaoist\u003c\/i\u003e. They formulated their viewpoints without any claim to divine or supernatural revelations, and without any invocation of religious authority. They simply proposed ideas they thought were essential for people to live by as individuals, in society, and in this world, without the guidance of any religion but instead with that of a humanist philosophy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLao Zi's \u003ci\u003edaoist\u003c\/i\u003e philosophy is sadly confused by many with the \u003ci\u003edaoist\u003c\/i\u003e religion, which was founded around 140 CE. Seeing humankind as a part of the universe, Lao Zi never hints at the creation of the world by supernatural beings. In fact, the \u003ci\u003eBook of Lao Zi\u003c\/i\u003e presents an atheist natural self-generation of the universe, as part of a humanist philosophy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eConfucius and Lao Zi emphasize different yet similar virtues that people should practice with the underlying assumption that every human being is perfectible, each by one's own efforts. This view differs greatly from the belief in many religious traditions that humankind is stained by an original sin or other evil thus requiring redemption through religion. The experience of the Chinese people shows that human beings can make ethical and humane moral decisions without religious input. If this phenomenon could take place in one society for thousands of years, then the argument that all people must have religion as their moral compass to guide them becomes specious. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePersonal cultivation of character is illustrated in \u003ci\u003eA Humanist Path\u003c\/i\u003e by the life stories of people in China and beyond. World events, historical and contemporary, discussed in connection with the ancient thinkers' teachings demonstrate their relevance in the 21stcentury. Questions of who decides on moral standards in society, and how do human beings make moral and ethical decisions assist readers in making moral and ethical choices in today's world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Wei Djao\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 8749511726\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798749511727\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/17\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 236\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.71lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.50d","brand":"Wei Djao","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43945770713343,"sku":"9798749511727","price":23.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_efe2aeb2-0d75-4c4f-a9dc-81fe5c9bc935.jpg?v=1681509727","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/a-humanist-path-wei-djao-9798749511727","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}