Taoism originated two thousand years ago as a Chinese tradition of philosophy and religious beliefs. Taoism draws many of its philosophical principles from the Tao Te Ching. This classic text is one of the first books of the Chinese school of thought written by a contemporary of Confucius: Lao Tzu. Taoism revolves around the Tao and encourages harmonious and neutral interaction with one's environment. The ethics of Taoism are not strictly stated in the Tao Te Ching and can be difficult to decipher, but the metaphysical foundation of Taoism tells people how to become a moral person. Metaphysics is a field of philosophical thought that deals with “the fundamental nature of being and everything around it” (Geisler 446). The relationship between ultimate and peripheral realities within Taoism helps us apply metaphysical concepts to understand what beings should consider ethical. Metaphysics of Taoism The word "Tao", translated as "way" or "path", in ancient Chinese philosophy, is the metaphysical term. foundation of Taoism which corresponds to ultimate reality. The Tao is ultimate, in the sense that it exists before Heaven and Earth. In chapter twenty-five of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu writes: “There was something formless but complete,/ which existed before heaven and earth;/ Without sound, without substance,/ Dependent on nothing, immutable.../ It's true. name we don't know;/'Way'[Tao] is the nickname we give it.' » As humans living in a concrete and defined world, the Tao can be a difficult concept to understand because it lacks conceptualization. Therefore, the Tao can easily be described in antagonistic terms. The Tao is not a being, rather it has a non-being; therefore, one should not consider the Tao as comparable...... middle of paper ......ent. In chapter two, Lao Tzu writes: “For true being and non-being arise from each other. » As humans, we are ultimately connected and in harmony with nature and all other entities. The actions and non-actions of all individuals in our reality influence the existence of all other manifestations. For example, a person's choice not to act creates opportunities for others to act, while hindering further actions. Person A's choice not to tell Person B that they will be laid off tomorrow before Person B takes out a loan allows Person B to understand the importance of taking the time to make important decisions, while Person B's ability to avoid large debts is obscured. The metaphysical foundation of Taoism affirms that all beings are continually intertwined and places harmonious action at the forefront of ethical considerations. Meta-ethical role of the Tao