Before 8 am Fri, send me one idea for our first discussion of the Daodejing. Please cite a chapter number that your idea concerns or that can serve as an example.

The edition translated by Ivanhoe has good notes; make use of them. Although I haven’t assigned the introductory discussion, it is likely to be useful. If you don’t look at it otherwise, I’d encourage you to look at the discussion of the idea of non-action (wuwei) on pp. xxii-xxiii.