Some Existentialist observations

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"Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards.

Man is defined only insofar as he acts and he is responsible for his actions. It can be said that a man who acts cruelly towards other people is, by that act, defined as a cruel man and in that same instance, he (as opposed to his genes, for instance) is defined as being responsible for being this cruel man. Of course, the opposite applies: You can choose to act in a different way, and to be a good person instead of a cruel person. Here it is also clear that since man can choose to be either cruel or good, he is, in fact, neither of these things essentially. To the world, metaphorically speaking, there is no such thing as a good person or a bad thing; what happens happens, and it may just as well happen to a good person as to a bad person.

There is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. People actually make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather than what is rational. That there are no values to be found in the world in-itself doesn't mean that there are no values: Each of us usually already has his values before a consideration of their validity is carried through, and it is, after all, upon these values we act. Making "choices" without allowing one's values to confer differing values to the alternatives, is, in fact, choosing not to make a choice - to "flip a coin," as it were, and to leave everything to chance. This is considered to be a refusal to live in the consequence of one's freedom, meaning it quickly becomes a sort of 'bad faith.' Since man is free, and since he already exists in this world, it is implied that his freedom is only in this world, and that it, too, is restricted by it.

A reference to "common values" doesn't "excuse" the individual's actions, because, even though these are the values of the society he is part of, they are also his own in the sense that he could choose them to be different at any time. One is not only responsible for one's actions, but also for the values one holds. The relationship between freedom and responsibility is one of interdependency, and a clarification of freedom also clarifies what one is responsible for."

(edited and pasted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism)
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The notion that, "Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards," is very present in chapter 51 of the "Tao Te Ching":

"Every being in the universe
is an expression of the Tao.
It springs into existence,
Unconscious, perfect, free,
takes on a physical body,
lets circumstance complete it.
That is why every being
spontaneously honours the Tao.

The Tao gives birth to all beings,
nourishes them, maintains them,
cares for them, comforts them, protects them,
takes them back to itself,
creating without possessing,
acting without expecting,
guiding without interfering,
That is why the love of the Tao
is in the very nature of things.


The existentialist idea of a world "in-itself" without judgement or rationality, accepting both 'good' and 'bad' without the presence of 'human values', is constantly present in the Tao Te Ching as it is the essential nature of the Tao:

"The Tao does not take sides; It gives birth to both good and evil. The Master does not take sides; He welcomes both saints and sinners." ("Tao Te Ching" chapter 5).

The idea that we are all subject to the processes of this random, tentative existence is supported by the proof of evolution and natural selection and our experiences of daily life in general, but it is mainly the way we apply meaning to our world and how we exercise our freedoms to choose which really matters. Both to the existentialist and to Lao Tzu.

6

The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.

It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.

Existentialism, like Taoism, is concerned with the idea that we are all 'free' to act in what ever way we like according to our own values and beliefs, however, we must also be aware of the consequences of our actions and the inevitable repercussions or resistance from society, or life in general, if our actions do not conform. Likewise, when we modify our behaviour to conform with society's values and standards we may also be modifying and adjusting our true values and beliefs. This is what the existentialist calls bad faith (not being true to oneself) and at odds with the concept of total freedom. Furthermore, the facility to be aware of and question the values and practices of the societies we live in, is paramount to maintaining our true freedom from detrimental or immoral systems of control which may lead us into a conflict of ethics, morals, values and practices contrary to our own.

53

The great Way is easy,
yet people prefer the side paths.
Be aware when things are out of balance.
Remain centred within the Tao.

When rich speculators prosper
while farmers lose their land;
when government officials spend money
on weapons instead of cures;
when the upper-class is extravagant and irresponsible
while the poor have nowhere to turn -
all this is robbery and chaos.
It is not in keeping with the Tao.

The intention from both schools of thought is not to promote immorality or anarchy, or to detach or excuse one from one's actions, but to pose a set of rules whereby we accept the arbitrary nature of life but remain constantly aware of the impact our choices have on the world around us and subsequently on ourselves. As in the "Tao Te Ching", existentialism encourages us to practice action through 'non-action', placing the onus on the individual to create the meaning in their life through their freedom to choose whether or not to do something based on the values of their collective social group and the freedom allowed by this world. Divine will or redemption are dismissed or considered unnecessary because "to the world there is no such thing as a good person or a bad thing," we create our own Heaven and Hell on earth in life though our collective choices and actions. For it is man who applies meaning to the universe and creation, not God, and it is through human experience and action that the concepts of good and evil, the 'meaning' of God and the Devil, are born.