Yang Chu

(or Yang Zhu, 440–360 BCE)

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Principal Themes of Yang Chu   

   1.      Pessimism – Life is short and unhappy, unpredictable and uncontrollable (see paragraphs A & M)  

   2.      Hedonism – Live for momentary pleasure (see B & C)

   3.      Impulsive Naturalism – Do not suppress or restrict spontaneous desires; be true to the “I/Me/Mine” (see E – G)

   4.       Egoism – “Each man for himself!” (see I)

   5.       “Detest Things, Value Life” – Focus on the subject of pleasure, not the object (see D)

   6.       “Accept Death As Natural” – Death is valuable given the limitations of pleasure (see H)

   7.       Good and Evil As Relative and Conventional – The winning power of the extraordinary (see J & N)

   8.       Praise For Anarchy and Individualism – Spontaneous freedom is the Way;

          the State should “wither away and die”; “Don’t follow leaders” (see L & O)

   9.       Don’t Take Things Too Seriously – Human effort is in vain (see K)

   

(The following readings are taken from the LIEH TZU, Ch. 7

in the Wieger/Bryce translation, pp. 97-105 in WISDOM OF THE DAOIST MASTERS.)