Which description best captures Taoism's view of government?

Which description best captures Taoism's view of government?

• A. Good government should be strong and controlling
• B. There should be no government
• C. Good government could become oppressive if it interfered too much
• D. Government should promote strict law and order

Answer: (C)

Taoism teaches governance through non-interference and harmony with the natural order. When a ruler meddles too much, even with good aims, it disrupts balance and breeds resentment or dependence. Laozi’s metaphor of cooking a small fish—gentle, minimal handling, not overdone—shows that restraint yields better outcomes than heavy-handed control. So, good government could become oppressive if it interfered too much, because excessive intervention disrupts the Dao and human flourishing. The other notions contradict this emphasis on natural harmony and spontaneity: aggressive, strong control clashes with non-action; complete absence of any government ignores the practical need for order; and a strict, law-and-order approach imposes rigid rules that stifle the Dao’s spontaneous flow.

Taoism teaches governance through non-interference and harmony with the natural order. When a ruler meddles too much, even with good aims, it disrupts balance and breeds resentment or dependence. Laozi’s metaphor of cooking a small fish—gentle, minimal handling, not overdone—shows that restraint yields better outcomes than heavy-handed control. So, good government could become oppressive if it interfered too much, because excessive intervention disrupts the Dao and human flourishing.

The other notions contradict this emphasis on natural harmony and spontaneity: aggressive, strong control clashes with non-action; complete absence of any government ignores the practical need for order; and a strict, law-and-order approach imposes rigid rules that stifle the Dao’s spontaneous flow.