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Taoism and Functional Programming: In Place

12 points by olliesaunders 17y ago

Like functional programming, Taoism aggressively minimises mutability. A true Taoist seeks to change the world as little as possible and refrains from acting as much as he can, creating the stable foundation on which Taoism is built and removing changing context from decisions of right and wrong. This allows Taoism to appear wise, possessing many hallmarks of wisdom in spades: - Logically true. - Universally applicable. - Highly abstract. - Foreign concepts. But how wise is Taoism really? Once you outlaw mutability, Taoism is merely a collection of virtues deftly derived from logical extension, no more impressive that the logical extensions a programming language designer makes from an established paradigm. Immutability is not without merits, but, if you value mutability in life (and most of us do), Taoism cannot be accepted. The best alternative then, is to understand that a virtuous life is not achieved principally through the application of very abstract concepts (these are few), but through the rapid mastery of relative, changing, specifics: A virtuous country is one that adapts its laws fastest to a changing world; a virtuous person is one who does not hesitate to change his opinion when it has been proven wrong; etc.

diiq 17y ago
Following the Tao does not preclude change. Therefore the Master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything. Things arise and she lets them come; things disappear and she lets them go. She has but doesn't possess, acts but doesn't expect. When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever. It precludes desire; when the Tao leads you to take an action, the action passes through you and onward through the things you acted with. It precludes judgement; the change that action has made in the world is. But action itself is niether praised nor reviled. The body will change the world as much as it will --- Taoism asks for the mind to remain calm and fluid, and the self to vanish.
thunk 17y ago
Hrm, I think you've misunderstood wu wei. Wu wei has nothing to do with immutability. Quite the contrary. Wu wei achieves great things by applying the least amount of force at the location of greatest leverage -- by piggybacking on the strong currents that are already loose in the world. It only appears to the unaware and the ignorant as if nothing has been done. In reality, the master is always upwind of correct action. Much of this can be achieved by simply being quiet, paying close attention, and doing what comes naturally without deliberation. I see very little similarity with FP.
Ixiaus 17y ago
An interesting post, points for bringing interesting discussion! Taoism seeks to not change world at all; realizing that change is inspired from within first. Also realizing that change within is unnecessary. Heraclitus had it right that the only constant in the Universe is Change. To realize that change is inevitable and natural will lead one to the conclusion that change is not necessary nor required (implying choice) but inevitable. Mutability is the fundamental unit, immutable state is only an illusion; it is the act of changing from one thing in one moment to something of similar essence in another moment. The rose is not trying to be beautiful, it is beautiful.

12 points by olliesaunders 17y ago

diiq 17y ago

Following the Tao does not preclude change. Therefore the Master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything. Things arise and she lets them come; things disappear and she lets them go. She has but doesn't possess, acts but doesn't expect. When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever. It precludes desire; when the Tao leads you to take an action, the action passes through you and onward through the things you acted with. It precludes judgement; the change that action has made in the world is. But action itself is niether praised nor reviled. The body will change the world as much as it will --- Taoism asks for the mind to remain calm and fluid, and the self to vanish.

thunk 17y ago

Hrm, I think you've misunderstood wu wei. Wu wei has nothing to do with immutability. Quite the contrary. Wu wei achieves great things by applying the least amount of force at the location of greatest leverage -- by piggybacking on the strong currents that are already loose in the world. It only appears to the unaware and the ignorant as if nothing has been done. In reality, the master is always upwind of correct action. Much of this can be achieved by simply being quiet, paying close attention, and doing what comes naturally without deliberation. I see very little similarity with FP.

Ixiaus 17y ago

An interesting post, points for bringing interesting discussion! Taoism seeks to not change world at all; realizing that change is inspired from within first. Also realizing that change within is unnecessary. Heraclitus had it right that the only constant in the Universe is Change. To realize that change is inevitable and natural will lead one to the conclusion that change is not necessary nor required (implying choice) but inevitable. Mutability is the fundamental unit, immutable state is only an illusion; it is the act of changing from one thing in one moment to something of similar essence in another moment. The rose is not trying to be beautiful, it is beautiful.