If 99% of people are kind, why is the world still in chaos? Understanding the truth through Taoist philosophy
Many wonder: If the vast majority of people harbor good intentions, why do conflicts, disasters, and injustices persist? In fact, Chinese Taoist thought has long held the answer. — Kindness is not a universal solution. When goodwill strays from the principles of the Dao and lacks the wisdom of governance, chaos thrives in the cracks.
1. Kindness Without Moderation: The Imbalance of Defying “When Things Reach Their Peak, They Decline”
The Taoist classic Daodejing states: “When things reach their peak, they decline. This is called not following the Dao. Not following the Dao leads to early demise.” This means that when things develop beyond their proper boundaries, they decline—and kindness is no exception. Many people’s understanding of “kindness” often falls into the trap of “unprincipled tolerance”: unconditionally yielding to injustice, condoning wrongdoing—seemingly practicing goodwill, yet disrupting the balance between “good and evil,” “advancement and retreat.”
As Laozi noted, “The sage avoids extremes, extravagance, and excess.” True goodness requires mastery of “moderation.” If 99% of people embrace “boundless kindness,” it creates opportunities for the 1% who lack balance—when kindness loses its reverence for rules and its commitment to boundaries, it becomes a catalyst for chaos. For instance, in public affairs, excessive tolerance of minority rule-breaking ultimately collapses collective order—a real-world validation of Taoist wisdom that “too much is as bad as too little.”
2. Good Intentions Without Action: The Trap of Deviating from “Unity of Knowledge and Action”
Taoism emphasizes “the Way is in daily practice,” advocating the unity of thought and action. The Classic of Great Peace states, “Good words without action are empty words of no benefit.” If most people’s “kindness” remains only at the level of thought, lacking the ability to translate into concrete action, goodwill risks becoming mere fantasy.
In reality, many harbor good intentions yet choose “prudent self-preservation” when confronted with concrete problems: witnessing others’ hardships with sympathy but offering no aid, identifying societal flaws with complaints but refusing to participate in improvements. Such “armchair” kindness cannot generate the force needed to propel the world’s orderly functioning. As Daoism advocates, “Cultivate within oneself, and virtue becomes genuine.” Only by transforming benevolent thoughts into altruistic actions can true harmony be built.
3. Good Governance Has No “Way”: Avoiding the Misconception of “Natural Non-Intervention”
The Taoist concept of “governing through non-action” does not advocate passive inaction but emphasizes following the natural laws of development. If 99% of well-intentioned individuals rely excessively on subjective will while promoting social governance, neglecting the objective laws of the “Way,” it may instead trigger new chaos.
For instance, in public policy formulation, basing decisions solely on “good intentions” while ignoring societal needs and resource endowments may yield counterproductive outcomes. In interpersonal relationships, forcibly interfering with others’ choices under the guise of “it’s for your own good” often provokes conflict. This echoes the Dao De Jing’s wisdom: “Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish” — governance must follow natural laws and act with moderation, not recklessly driven by good intentions alone.
4. Breaking the Deadlock: Reconstructing the Dimensions of “Goodness” Through Taoist Wisdom
To resolve the tension between “kindness and chaos,” we must draw wisdom from Taoist thought: First, establish goodness through “maintaining the middle way,” integrating principles and boundaries into kindness—neither indulging evil nor acting with extremism; Second, cultivate goodness through “action,” transforming benevolent intentions into concrete deeds—from small acts of helping others to large-scale participation in societal development. Third, govern goodness by “following the Tao,” advancing orderly social progress while adhering to objective laws and minimizing unnecessary intervention.
Just as Taoism pursues the realm where “Heaven and Earth coexist with me, and all things are one with me,” true goodness is never an isolated personal thought. It is holistic wisdom that integrates with natural laws, considers others, and aligns with the Dao. Only when 99% of kind-hearted individuals are guided by the “Dao,” allowing goodwill and reason to walk hand in hand, can the world truly move toward harmony and order.
