Explore Science-first Philosophy

STORY

Laozi

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Tue 9 Apr 2024
Published 2 years ago.
Updated 3 months ago.
Daoism
Related Stories
Share :
Laozi or Lou Tzu (604-517 BCE). Founder of Daoism, aka Taoism. The life of Laozi is shrouded in mystery, but he is the first philosopher in “30 Philosophers” that attempts to construct a precise biography.

Laozi

b. circa 604 BCE
By tradition, 604-517 BCE
105 Generations Ago

30 Phil, Chapter 4: Laozi and Daoist Philosophy
The life of Laozi is shrouded in mystery, but he is the first philosopher in “30 Philosophers” that attempts to construct a precise biography. The Spring and Autumn Period of China spanned nearly three centuries starting in 770 BCE, and Laozi lived about in the middle of that era. He was born about 604 BCE . His native language was Old Chinese, he authored the Dao De Jing, and founded the Daoist philosophy. Some stories indicate he was married and had at least one son.

Pictured is the statue of Laozi at the base of mount Qingyuan in China.  

— map / TST —

Michael Alan Prestwood
Author & Natural Philosopher
Prestwood writes on science-first philosophy, with particular attention to the convergence of disciplines. Drawing on his TST Framework, his work emphasizes rational inquiry grounded in empirical observation while engaging questions at the edges of established knowledge. With TouchstoneTruth positioned as a living touchstone, this work aims to contribute reliable, evolving analysis in an emerging AI era where the credibility of information is increasingly contested.
Email
Print
This Week @ TST
April 8, 2026
»Column Archive
WWB Research….
1. Story of the Week
Pragmatism
2. Quote of the Week
“Our statements about the external world face the tribunal of sense experience not individually, but only as a corporate body.”
3. Science FAQ »
Why do scientific models work if they aren’t literally true?
4. Philosophy FAQ »
Is agnosticism a ludicrous position to occupy?
5. Critical Thinking FAQ »
Do my people and culture help or harm my critical thinking?
6. History FAQ!
Did Berger and Luckmann really say reality is just made up?
Bonus Deep-Dive Article
TST Doxastic Formation: Public Belief, Tribe, and Worldview
Scroll to Top