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Laozi

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Author and Natural Philosopher

04 Apr 2024
Published 2 years ago.
Updated 5 days ago.
Daoism
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Laozi

b. circa 604 BCE
By tradition, 604-517 BCE
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

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.  

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 analysis in an emerging AI era where the credibility of information is increasingly contested.

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7 Jan 2026 Edition
Story of the Week
Heraclitus
Quote of the Week
“Everything is in flux.”
Weekly Crossroads!
1. Science »
Will the night sky have stars nearly forever?
2. Philosophy »
What does existence before essence mean?
3. Critical Thinking »
Is cause and effect certain?
4. History!
Who were the Presocratic Philosophers?
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