Introduction

Eastern Philosophy's Philosophical Foundations of Education these are the main ideologies that
Chinese civilization has contributed to. At first look, Taoism and Confucianism appear to be very
distinct, even contradictory. The enlightened understand that Taoist and Confucian beliefs are
quite similar, but that they are expressed differently. With them, my other block mates will
discuss the other issue, because we are divided into three groups in this topic. Several
philosophies exist, each with its own set of behaviors, beliefs, and perspectives that may have
an impact on education. However, we will discuss the influences of several philosophies in
eastern philosophies, particularly Confucianism and Taoism, in this study.

DISCUSSION

Education is a value, and to be educated means more than a path to achieve personal success.
As institutions of higher education have the responsibility for the education of a society’s youth,
they must take on the challenge of providing students with an ethical vision of right and wrong
and increase their concern for the public good.
Confucius had a holistic view of learning and education, which centered on cultivation of virtue
and character. Not only did Confucius insist that cultivation of virtue is integral to the
development of self, but he also believed that it is of great importance for a good society. For
him, virtuous people are necessary for the well-functioning of a society. While law is essential
for social stability, the civilized mode of conduct can never be communicated through coercion
or punishment. Confucius believed in the transformation of education for one to become
virtuous. Confucian learning was seen as the process where individuals grow in virtue and
cultivate human goodness while becoming in tune with other people. At the heart of ethics is the
development of good character. Confucius taught that learning is not simply making oneself
knowledgeable, but also involves acquiring moral values such as jen (humanity) and yi
(righteousness). Only a person of true humanness could show empathy and have the courage
to become a righteous person. In addition to disseminating knowledge and enhancing
intellectual development, universities and colleges must make higher education relevant and
purposeful, and impart to their students ethical values and virtues such as compassion, justice,
and concern for others.
Learning, for the Confucians, is to learn to be human. To be human is not merely to look after
one’s own interest and satisfy one’s own desires. The heart-and-mind defines the uniqueness
of being human. Confucius taught to cultivate compassion and practice concern for others. He
insisted on empathizing and extending virtues to others as the way to cultivate humanity. The
basic idea of jen illustrates how human beings should relate to one another in society. There is
a sense of belonging and interconnection that encourages one to extend him- or herself to
others. With the focus of today’s college students dominated primarily by narrow concerns of
individual success and self-fulfillment, institutions of higher education have an important role to
play in providing these students with a larger sense of purpose and in fostering within them
consciousness of the welfare of all humanity.
A Taoist approach to this question would be: without the general education courses you will not
be properly prepared for the courses in your major of study. As Taoism teaches, no one can go
from being a novice to being an expert without developing specific skills along the way. Only
after the skills taught in the general education courses are mastered, will you be prepared to
move forward. Taoism, also known as Daoism, arose about the same time as Confucianism.
Laoze (Chinese: 老子; pinyin: Lǎozǐ, also Laotzi, Laotse, Lao-Tse, Lao-tzu, Lao Zi or Lão Tu), is
considered to have written a book of 81 chapters, named Tao Te Ching, also Daodejing (trad.
Chinese: 道德經; simpl. Chinese: 道德经; pinyin: Dàodéjīng), a classical Chinese text, mainly
concerning 道 tao/ dào "way," and 德 te/dé "virtue”, life, strength. Taoist thought focuses on
genuineness, longevity, health, immortality, vitality, wu wei (non-action, a natural action, a
perfect equilibrium with tao), detachment, refinement (emptiness), spontaneity, transformation
and omni-potentiality. This religious and philosophical tradition of Taoism had its roots in the
nature worship and divination of the earliest Chinese people. The word ‘Tao’ 道 (or Dao)
translates into "path", ”method”, “principle” or "way", the character 教 translates into ‘”teach” or
“class” and Taoist belief is based on the idea that there is central or organizing principle of the
Universe, a natural order or a "way of heaven", Tao, that one can come to know by living in
harmony with nature and hence with the cosmos and the Universe.The philosophy of Tao
signifies the fundamental or true nature of the world, it is the essential, unnameable process of
the universe. Tao both precedes and encompasses the universe.

Synthesis
In conclusion, it would seem that the two competing philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism
have more in common than previously acknowledged concepts of education through self
transformation seem to reside at the center of each of these tradition. Granted, Taoism and
Confucianism are entirely different systems. However, realizing that they do have similarities,
the two philosophies seem much less different. Perhaps there are Confucian Taoists in China
who already know this. For the Confucianism/Confucius advocated for the unprivileged to have
access to education. Confucius established private schools to educate students from all
socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, Taoism/Taoist is education is becoming an expert without
gaining specialized abilities along the way you won't be ready to go forward unless you've
mastered the abilities taught in general education classes.

References
 https://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_1671
 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2202/1940-1639.1045
 https://www.slideshare.net/Estepambato123/confucianism-187155477
 https://www.grantham.edu/blog/taking-courses-taoist-approach-education-offers-
answers/
 https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/taoism.htm
 psu.vitalsource.com/readers/books/9781305854895/pageid/67
 http://www2.hawaii.edu/~sford/research/taoism/index.html
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/ijamh-2013-0031/html