Human civilization stands at a significant turning point. We are entering an era where artificial intelligence challenges human intellect, quantum computing breaks existing computational limits, and space exploration has once again become a focal point of national competition. Biotechnology aims to extend human lifespan, and robots are beginning to replace human labor. While the industrial and information revolutions transformed human life in the past, today’s AI revolution seeks to redefine human existence itself.
Interestingly, a remarkable phenomenon is occurring: in the very places where the world’s most advanced technologies are concentrated, where rapid innovation takes place, and where the highest value is created, the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi, dating back 2,500 years, are being revisited.
In fact, many entrepreneurs and executives in Silicon Valley are reading the Tao Te Ching. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, had a deep interest in Eastern philosophy during his youth, and leaders from numerous tech companies, including Google, Meta, and NVIDIA, utilize meditation and Eastern philosophy as vital assets in their management practices. Ray Dalio, founder of one of the world’s largest hedge funds, has publicly emphasized the principles of Eastern philosophy and nature.
Why is this happening?
The fact that humanity is turning back to the oldest philosophies in its most advanced era signifies a profound paradox within modern civilization.
We live in the most prosperous time in history, yet it is also the most uncertain. Information is abundant, but wisdom is lacking. Connections have increased, yet loneliness has deepened. Technology has advanced, but happiness has not increased in proportion. People are moving faster, yet they are increasingly unsure of their direction.
Laozi warned of these dangers 2,500 years ago.
He believed that civilization begins to falter when humans forget the order of nature and pursue only their desires. People seek to possess more but remain unsatisfied; they strive for higher positions yet fail to find peace. Laozi cautioned against this endless cycle of desire.
One passage in the Tao Te Ching states, "He who knows contentment is rich." Today, economics discusses growth, production, and consumption, but Laozi spoke of satisfaction. He argued that true abundance comes from knowing sufficiency rather than acquiring more.
This is not merely a personal attitude; it serves as a warning for modern civilization as a whole.
The environmental crisis humanity faces today is, in fact, a consequence of the relentless pursuit of growth by industrial civilization. Climate change, desertification, biodiversity collapse, and ocean pollution all stem from humanity's view of nature as something to be conquered.
However, Laozi did not see nature as something to conquer. He believed that humans are not masters of nature but rather a part of it.
The Dao (道) in Taoism is not a human order; it is the order that governs the entire universe. Humans are merely included within it.
Thus, Taoism can be considered one of the oldest philosophies of ecology.
Today, as ecology gains importance in Europe and the United States, it prompts a reevaluation of the relationship between humanity and nature. Remarkably, Laozi posed the same question 2,500 years ago: Should humans dominate nature, or should they live in harmony with it?
The current climate crisis illustrates how prescient Laozi's questions were.
Zhuangzi takes this a step further.
While Laozi spoke of the order of nature, Zhuangzi discussed the freedom of the human spirit.
Modern individuals are bound by numerous constraints: money, jobs, honor, competition, social media evaluations, and societal perceptions. People talk about freedom, yet they often find themselves trapped in prisons of their own making.
Zhuangzi observed this human condition with keen insight. He believed that humans create the largest prison within themselves.
The story of the butterfly dream is not just a simple parable.
It questions the very reality that humans believe to be absolute.
Zhuangzi asks:
“Is what you believe to be true really the truth?”
“Is what you consider important truly significant?”
These questions are becoming increasingly relevant in the age of AI.
Today, artificial intelligence can process more information than humans. AI learns from millions of books and provides answers faster than humans can. However, having more information does not equate to possessing wisdom.
AI can provide answers, but humans must ask the questions. AI can calculate, but it cannot explain meaning. AI can predict, but it cannot tell us why we should live.
It is at this juncture that Laozi and Zhuangzi reemerge.
As we enter the AI era, humanity increasingly questions what it means to be human. The essence of humanity is not speed, competition, or productivity.
The core of humanity lies in reflection. Laozi and Zhuangzi are the philosophers of that reflection.
The popularity of meditation and Eastern philosophy in Silicon Valley stems from this understanding.
Leaders of the world’s top tech companies are among the most competitive and fastest-moving individuals. Yet, they also recognize that technology alone cannot bring happiness.
Thus, they return to reading Laozi. Simplicity is necessary to solve complex problems. In a rapidly changing world, a stable center is essential. The most adaptable organizations, not the strongest, will survive.
Laozi’s philosophy of water is frequently cited in modern management. Water is the softest yet the strongest. It flows to the lowest places but ultimately carves mountains and creates rivers.
Laozi viewed strength not as overpowering others but as emptying oneself.
This philosophy applies to contemporary leadership as well. Authoritarian organizations do not last long. Flexible and adaptable organizations thrive. Cooperation is more important than domination, and empathy is more crucial than commands.
Consequently, 21st-century management is increasingly aligning with Laozi.
Korean thinker Dasuk Yoo Yeong-mo also had a profound interest in Laozi and Zhuangzi. Dasuk was a philosopher who extensively studied Eastern and Western religions and philosophies. He sought to explore the essence of the human spirit through Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Taoist thought.
Dasuk often spoke of “emptiness.” He believed that a true human must empty themselves of greed, arrogance, and pride.
This idea is deeply connected to Laozi’s concept of wu wei (無為). Wu wei is not about doing nothing; it is about not forcing actions and not going against the natural flow.
Dasuk also did not seek to forcibly possess the truth. He believed that while truth is singular, the paths to it are many. Thus, he did not absolutize any specific religion.
He sought to find a common thread of truth among Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Taoist thought.
In this regard, Dasuk, who could recite the Gospel of John by heart, can be seen as a successor to Korean Taoist thought. The Dao of Laozi and the spirit of Dasuk, while using different languages, point in a similar direction.
Both believed that when humans empty themselves, they can approach a greater truth.
So, what is the greatest legacy that Taoism has left for humanity?
It is harmony. Harmony over power. Coexistence over conquest. Balance over competition.
Laozi and Zhuangzi did not tell humanity to conquer the universe. They urged us to live in harmony with nature. They did not advocate for domination over others but encouraged finding ways to coexist.
Today, humanity is advancing toward an era of AI, robots, quantum computing, and space exploration. However, no matter how advanced technology becomes, civilization cannot endure if humanity loses harmony with nature.
AI may become smarter than humans, but whether it can be wiser remains uncertain. Wisdom does not arise from calculations; it emerges from reflection on the essence of life.
Thus, we return to reading Laozi. Thus, we return to reading Zhuangzi.
The reason why the brief phrases left by a Chinese philosopher 2,500 years ago continue to inspire today’s leading scientists, entrepreneurs, philosophers, and religious figures is clear: no matter how far humanity travels, it must ultimately return to its essence.
Laozi and Zhuangzi are the ancient lamps guiding us to that essence. And that light continues to shine brightly even in the darkness of the AI era.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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