73%
Confidence
Belief overview
Simplicity, humility, and detachment
The tradition values moderation, low profile, and reduction of excessive desires.
3
Supportive
0
Contrary
0
Neutral
What it is: Many Taoist texts value simplicity, moderation, humility, and reduction of attachment to status, excess, and ostentation.
How the tradition understands it: A person becomes disordered when seized by ambition, excessive desire, and artificiality. Simplicity favors clarity, peace, and conformity with the Dao.
Textual basis and context: The Tao Te Ching is especially striking on this point, with language about softness, emptiness, and return to the simple.
Debates and variations: Some religious schools combined this ideal with complex rituals without considering it contradictory.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
Tao Te Ching 11
The value of functional emptiness.
Reference: Tao Te Ching, chapter 11.
Content: The text shows how emptiness gives usefulness to wheels, vessels, and houses.
Use in debate: It is often used for simplicity, receptivity, and unostentatious effectiveness.
Tao Te Ching 19
A return to simplicity and a critique of artificial excess.
Reference: Tao Te Ching, chapter 19.
Content: The text proposes a return to simplicity and a reduction of excessive artifices.
Use in debate: It reinforces the theme of simplicity and detachment.
Tao Te Ching 8
An appreciation of humility and likeness to water.
Reference: Tao Te Ching, chapter 8.
Content: The text compares supreme goodness to water, which benefits without competing and occupies low places.
Use in debate: It is widely cited for humility and simplicity.