Number of words: 124

Mistrust of conventional knowledge and reasoning is stronger in Taoism than in any other school of Eastern philosophy. It is based on the firm belief that the human intellect can never comprehend the Tao. In the words of Chuang Tzu, The most extensive knowledge does not necessarily know it; reasoning will not make men wise in it. The sages have decided against both these methods. Chuang Tzu’s book is full of passages reflecting the Taoist’s contempt of reasoning and argumentation. Thus he says,

A dog is not reckoned good because he barks well, and a man is not reckoned wise because he speaks skilfully.

Disputation is a proof of not seeing clearly.

Excerpted from Page 113 of ‘The Tao of Physics’ by Fritjof Capra