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Complementing Aggressive Activity with Laozian Stillness
ID O'Neill, Rory (Author)

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Abstract
This article develops a Laozian perspective to assuaging conflict by means of a stillness that complements aggressive activity. Contrary to readings of the Laozi that understand stillness as a pure and undisturbed state, this article draws attention to parts that observe and engage with weapons and warfare, such as Chapters 31, 68, and 80. The article there­upon argues that Laozian stillness is intrinsically interconnected with its antonymous ac­tivity, including aggressive activity. Laozian stillness allows one to observe patterns that foster aggression, violence, and instability, and thereby enact a complementary and sta­bilizing role through that same stillness. Overweening and domineering forms of activity are seen in the Laozi as likely to lead to instability, unrest, and decline. In line with the Laozian recognition of the interplay of opposites, if one strives for a pure state of passiv­ity divorced from aggression, then ironically this tends to exacerbate that aggression. If those who have the capacity to effect peaceful stillness detach from the world, the world thereby becomes more rife with aggressive activity. Furthermore, a political application of this interplay between stillness and activity implies that when stillness and activity are taken as fundamental political categories, they are not easily deployed in service of particular political motives. As such, the Laozi seeks to arrive at political stability, but this entails that political convictions must be fluid like water in order for this stillness to be brought about.

Language:English
Keywords:Daoism, Laozi, stillness, political philosophy, conflict
Work type:Article
Typology:1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:FF - Faculty of Arts
Publication status:Published
Publication version:Version of Record
Publication date:09.01.2026
Number of pages:Str. 281-300
Numbering:Vol. 14, no. 1
PID:20.500.12556/RUL-178345 This link opens in a new window
ISSN:2232-5131
eISSN:2350-4226
DOI:https://doi.org/10.4312/as.2026.14.1.281-300 This link opens in a new window
Publication date in RUL:23.01.2026
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Downloads:107
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Record is a part of a journal

Title:Asian studies
Publisher:Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
ISSN:2232-5131
COBISS.SI-ID:265206272 This link opens in a new window

Licences

License:CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
Link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Description:This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

Language:Slovenian
Title:Dopolnjevanje agresivnih aktivnosti z laoistično spokojnostjo
Abstract:
Ta članek predstavlja laoistično perspektivo blaženja konfliktov s spokojnostjo kot nečim, kar lahko dopolni agresivne aktivnosti. V nasprotju s tistimi interpretacijami Laozija, ki spokojnost razumejo kot čisto in nemoteno stanje, članek izpostavi poglavja, kot so 31, 68 in 80, ki se ukvarjajo z orožjem ter vojskovanjem. Avtor zagovarja tezo, da je laoistič-na spokojnost inherentno prepletena s svojim nasprotjem, kar vključuje tudi agresivnost. Laoistična spokojnost omogoča zaznavanje vzorcev, ki spodbujajo nasilje, agresijo in nestabilnost, ter tako omogoča dopolnjevanje in stabilizacijo, ki se udejanjita prav prek same spokojnosti. Pretirano vzvišene in oblastniške oblike delovanja so v Laoziju prika-zane kot tvegane, saj vodijo v nestabilnost, nemir in propad. V skladu z laoističnim ra-zumevanjem prepletanja nasprotij pa prizadevanje za čisto pasivnost, ločeno od agresije, paradoksno spodbuja prav to agresijo. Če se tisti, ki imajo zmožnost udejanjiti miroljub-no spokojnost, umaknejo iz sveta, postane svet toliko bolj prežet z agresivnim delovan-jem. Politična implikacija tega razmerja med spokojnostjo in dejavnostjo je v tem, da ti kategoriji, če ju razumemo kot temeljni politični načeli, nista neposredno uporabni za zasledovanje določenih političnih ciljev. Laozi namreč stremi k politični stabilnosti, vendar ta zahteva, da so politična prepričanja tekoča kot voda – le na tak način je možno spokojnost dejansko uresničiti.

Keywords:daoizem, Laozi, spokojnost, politična filozofija, konflikt

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