6th century BC · eastern philosophy, Taoism, metaphysics
Laozi, a semi-legendary figure of ancient China, is traditionally credited as the author of the *Daodejing* and the foundational philosopher of Taoism. His teachings advocate for a natural, spontaneous way of living in harmony with the cosmic principle of the Dao, emphasizing simplicity, non-action (wu wei), and the rejection of artificial societal constructs.