Early Chinese Thought: The Dao-de-Jing seems to recommend an extremely minimal form of governing. Do you think think it is realistic in its expectations of what will happen as result?

QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION: The Dao-de-Jing seems to recommend an extremely minimal form of governing. Do you think think it is realistic in its expectations of what will happen as result? Or is it far too idealistic? Explain.

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Dao – De – Jing’s idea of extremely limited government is one that sounds liberating and idyllic at least on the surface. Allowing people unlimited freedom of choice and freedom of action without a looming  bureaucracy peering over everyone’s shoulder could seem very appealing.  Indeed government can take on a life of its own and possesses both the potential to empower or to oppress its citizens. Thus, a balance must be struck.

This balance is perhaps most accurately defined in John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, in which a seemingly perfect “state of nature” exists in which there is no government. However, this society is not viable due its lack of protection for the rights of its citizens, a law enforcement system, or a judiciary.  This is where government comes in to provide this protection and security. The people and government have then agreed to a “social contact” in which the people give up a portion of their unlimited freedom in exchange for this protection.  Moreover, the ongoing debate in politics for years which is still prevalent today is how to determine when government becomes too big and begins to infringe on the rights of its citizens. This is where the black and white of government exhibits many shades of gray.  It is true that some government presence is absolutely necessary to serve as a united front and as a vehicle to protect its citizens.  However, in today’s world the bureaucracy has certainly grown much larger than that ever originally envisioned by Locke.