Material for the Debate on Idealism
(December 27, 1959)

Print 10 copies and hand them over to me, please.
Mao Zedong
Six o'clock in the morning, the 27th
Gao Zhi[1] to handle.
Chuan

This material introduces that among those who hold that Laozi's philosophy is fundamentally materialist, some believe that Laozi's view of nature is materialist, without touching upon Laozi's epistemology; others hold that both Laozi's view of nature and his epistemology are fundamentally materialist. Meanwhile, those who hold that Laozi's philosophy is fundamentally idealist believe that both Laozi's view of nature and his epistemology are idealist. The passages cited by the two sides from the book of Laozi are partly the same, but the interpretations given are each different; another part of the citations are each different. This material also lists fifteen passages from the book *Laozi*, respectively introducing the different interpretations given to these passages by those holding the two viewpoints.

[2]
Gao Zhi, then serving as a secretary in Mao Zedong's office.