Human civilization stands at a significant turning point. We are entering an era where artificial intelligence challenges human intelligence, quantum computing is breaking the limits of traditional computing, and space exploration has resurfaced as 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 most advanced technologies are concentrated, where rapid innovation takes place, and where the highest value is generated, the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi from 2,500 years ago 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, are utilizing meditation and Eastern philosophy as vital assets in their management practices. Ray Dalio, one of the founders 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 returning to the oldest philosophies in the 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 abounds, but wisdom is lacking. Connections have increased, yet loneliness has deepened. Technology has advanced, but happiness has not increased proportionately. 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 humanity forgets the order of nature and pursues only desire. People seek to possess more but remain unsatisfied; they strive for higher status but 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 contentment. He asserted that true abundance comes from knowing sufficiency rather than accumulating more.
This is not merely an individual attitude; it serves as a warning to modern civilization as a whole.
The current environmental crisis humanity faces is, in fact, a consequence of an industrial civilization that has pursued endless growth. Climate change, desertification, biodiversity collapse, and ocean pollution all stem from humanity viewing nature as something to be conquered.
However, Laozi did not see nature as a target for conquest. He believed that humans are not masters of nature but rather a part of it.
The "Dao" in Taoism is not a human-only order; it is the order that moves the entire universe. Humans are merely included within it.
Thus, Taoism can be considered one of the oldest philosophies of ecology.
Today, the importance of ecology in Europe and the United States is prompting a reevaluation of the relationship between humanity and nature. Remarkably, Laozi posed the same questions 2,500 years ago.
Should humanity dominate nature, or should we live in harmony with it?
The current climate crisis underscores 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 expectations. 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 "Butterfly Dream" is not just a simple fable.
It questions the very reality that humans believe to be absolute.
Zhuangzi asks, "Is what you believe to be true actually true?" and "Is what you consider important truly important?" 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 the questions must come from humans. AI can calculate but cannot explain meaning. AI can predict but cannot tell us why we should live.
It is at this juncture that Laozi and Zhuangzi reemerge.
As we enter the age of AI, humanity increasingly questions what it means to be human. The essence of being human 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 needed to solve complex problems. A center is necessary to remain steady in a rapidly changing world. The most flexible 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 dominating others but as emptying oneself.
This philosophy applies to today’s leadership as well. Authoritarian organizations do not last long. Flexible and adaptable organizations survive. Cooperation is more important than domination, and empathy is more crucial than commands.
Thus, 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 Taoism.
Dasuk often spoke of "emptiness." He believed that true humanity requires one to empty oneself of greed, arrogance, and pride.
This thought is deeply connected to Laozi’s concept of "wu wei." Laozi’s wu wei is not about doing nothing; it is about not forcing actions and not going against the flow of nature.
Dasuk also did not seek to forcibly possess the truth. He believed that while truth is one, the paths to it are many. Therefore, he did not absolutize any particular religion.
He sought to find the common thread of truth within Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Taoism.
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 point in a similar direction, even if they use different languages.
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 force. 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 read Laozi again. Thus, we read Zhuangzi again.
The reason why the brief sentences left by a philosopher from 2,500 years ago continue to inspire today’s leading scientists, entrepreneurs, philosophers, and religious figures is clear. No matter how far humanity goes, we must ultimately return to the essence.
Laozi and Zhuangzi are the ancient lamps pointing to that essence. And that light continues to shine brightly even in the darkness of the AI era.
※ This article was generated using generative AI and has been reviewed by an editor.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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