Comparison Paper

Taoism versus Existentialism:
The Juxtaposition of Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching and Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit
The history of philosophy has seen a repeated distinction made between Eastern and Western thought. Although both Eastern and Western philosophies share certain fundamental values, they undoubtedly differ. A clear example of contrasting philosophies is seen in the juxtaposition of Taoism and Existentialism. More specifically, Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching and Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit, Taoist and Existential works, respectively, share both similarities and differences in style, mood, and in the messages the authors convey.
Taoism is defined as a Chinese philosophy that advocates a simple life and a policy of noninterference with the natural course of things. The historical origins of this ancient philosophy are debatable; many scholars believe that Taoism dates back to sixth-century BC. Although the word Taoism may refer to religious practices, alchemy, or traditional Chinese medicine, the Taoist philosophy is of primary interest to this discussion. As the Columbia Encyclopedia describes, “The Tao, in the broadest sense, is the way the universe functions, the path taken by natural events. It is characterized by spontaneous creativity and by regular alternations of phenomena (such as day following night) that proceed without effort” . In other words, the Taoist approach to living is one that smoothly flows, and seeks a harmonious connection with nature. The philosophical roots of Taoism are attributed to the seminal text titled Tao Te Ching, which solidifies the salient ideas of Lao Tsu. According to legend, Lao Tsu, who emerged before Confucius, was reluctant to record his philosophy, because he asserted, “The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao” (Ch. 1). However, Lao Tsu was persuaded to do so, and the eighty-one chaptered text that he produced would prove to provide the core teachings of Taoism.
In contrast, Existentialism is a 20th-century philosophical movement that denies that the universe has any intrinsic meaning or purpose and requires individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and shape their own destinies . Principal values of Existentialism include authenticity, freedom, and responsibility. Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) is considered the father of Existentialism, a philosophy that emerged in Europe and therefore adopted an emphasis on individualism and reason, which are characteristic of Western thought. Jean-Paul Sartre’s play No Exit exemplifies existential philosophy because Sartre intertwines all the previously mentioned themes into his concept of mauvaise foi or “bad faith”, which is used to describe "the phenomenon wherein one denies one's total freedom, instead choosing to behave as an inert object" . In No Exit, the three main characters Garcin, Estelle, and Inez wind up in an unconventional “Hell” that is far different from the fiery prison such a word conjures. As the characters interact they eventually realize that they were all chosen to torture each other, because they constantly yearn for approval. The demon of external validation plagues the characters, who rely on the unrequited confirmation from another character. In other words, each person suffers because he/she is not acting authentically, but rather depending on the judgment and opinions of others.
The Tao Te Ching was compiled thousands of years before No Exit was published, therefore the differences between these two works are numerous, and understandably inevitable. Perhaps most significant is the difference seen between the messages Lao Tsu and Sartre convey to readers. In the Tao Te Ching, the concept of wu mei, which translates to “doing nothing”, but more accurately means “act naturally”, “effortless action”, or “nonwillful action”, greatly influences the Taoist approach to life. To wu mei is to flow with reality, or as Ronnie Littlejohn describes, “Those following the Dao do not strive, tamper, or seek control (Ch. 64). They do not endeavor to help life along (Ch. 55), or use their heart-mind (xin) to "solve" or "figure out" life's apparent knots and entanglements (Ch. 55)” . In addition, Lao Tsu writes about the universe, “If you try to change it, you will ruin it. If you try to hold it, you will lose it” (Ch. 29). In contrast, Sartre’s message in No Exit is to urge individuals to recognize their absolute freedom, and the responsibility that comes with this freedom to shape one’s own destiny. In other words, No Exit suggests to readers the idea that individuals ultimately have the choice to define their lives, which means they can and should tamper with and control reality.
Other notable differences in style and mood are seen in the Tao Te Ching and No Exit. For example, the style of Lao Tsu’s writing is generally ambiguous, open to multiple interpretations, and tersely profound. On the other hand, No Exit is comparatively more concrete, and an examination of the play’s subtext reveals a fairly straightforward and clear message. Perhaps this difference is merely a result of the fact that Lao Tsu contends, "The Tao is forever undefined. Small though it is in the unformed state, it cannot be grasped."; therefore, attempting to write about the Tao often yields ambiguous descriptions (Ch. 32). Also, the Tao Te Ching and No Exit have unique moods. The mood of Tao Te Ching is at times laid-back, neutral, empowering, advisory, and inspirational. Lao Tsu's words are thought provoking and set the reader into a natural and positive mood. In contrast, the general mood of No Exit is quite dark, not only because the play is set in Hell, but also because the characters essentially torture each other and reveal the deleterious consequences of behaving inauthentically.
On the surface, Tao Te Ching and No Exit appear to share no commonalities; however, a close examination of these works reveals that there are some similarities. For example, one can infer that another message suggested by both texts is the idea of authenticity, or being true to and understanding oneself. In the Tao Te Ching, not only is there an emphasis on acting naturally and resisting contrived, false behavior, but also, Lao Tsu writes, “Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment.” (Ch. 33). This quote showcases a crucial aspect of Taoist philosophy: the necessity of discovering the true essence of the self. Similarly, No Exit advises readers to refrain from expressing a façade that undermines the true self, or expressing "bad faith". Drawing from Existentialism in general, one can understand why Sartre suggests in No Exit that authenticity is paramount; the reason is because by living inauthentically, one ignores the absolute freedom and responsibility he/she possesses as a human being, and fails to personally give his/her life meaning. Although many themes in the Tao Te Ching are concerned with social harmony and unity of the collective, as opposed to a focus on individualism, one may interpret that both Lao Tsu and Sartre value natural behavior and knowledge of the self.
In conclusion, the Tao Te Ching and No Exit reflect the contrasting philosophies of Eastern Taoism and Western Existentialism. Because Taoist philosophy as represented in the Tao Te Ching is often subject to multiple interpretations, both similarities and differences can be drawn between Lao Tsu's messages and Sartre's. Although the dissimilarities are most apparent in style and mood, if one looks carefully, commonalities arise, because successful philosophical works characteristically contain effective use of symbolism and language. Moreover, the juxtaposition of these two texts is significant because it allows one to gain insight into two dominant philosophies of Eastern and Western culture, and helps explain how and why our unique societies have been impacted by the ideas of Lao Tsu and Sartre.