A typed copy of the commentary on a document discussing the debate over whether Laozi’s philosophy is materialistic or idealistic [1], dated December 27, 1959, should be prepared and delivered to me at your earliest convenience.
Mao Zedong, 6:00 a.m. on the 27th, Office of Gao Zhi [2]. Printed from the manuscript.
Notes [1] This document explains that among those who regard Laozi’s philosophy as fundamentally materialistic, some hold that Laozi’s view of nature is materialist while remaining silent on his epistemology, whereas others maintain that both his natural philosophy and epistemology are essentially materialist.
Those who see Laozi’s philosophy as primarily idealistic, however, contend that both his natural outlook and epistemology are idealist.
The quotations cited by each side from Laozi’s writings partly overlap but are interpreted differently; other passages quoted differ entirely between the two camps.
The document also lists fifteen excerpts from the “Laozi,” presenting the divergent interpretations offered by proponents of the two views. [2] Gao Zhi was then serving as secretary in Mao Zedong’s office.