We can be sure that Lao-Tzu never had to face the problems of a highly complex society. I’m talking about macro-economic shifts, mass migration, inflation, unemployment, bank runs and credit ratings, just to mention a few. Nor was Lao-Tzu ever confronted with bankruptcy, chain collisions on the highway, radio-magnetic pollution or the high costs of…

Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu elevated simplicity to a way of life, a principle that determines how Taoists think and behave. When simplicity becomes ingrained in our character, we do not need to remind ourselves to streamline our activities, reuse old resources, and avoid unnecessary expenditures. Taoists regard simplicity as a virtue because it sustains self-reliance…