Dé is often translated as virtue or power[1]. David Hinton translates dé as nobility[2]. Like dào, the purpose of the Lǎo Zǐ is to explain dé, so the word is not translated in this commentary. Chad Hansen translates dé as virtuosity in that dé "may be the result of innate skill or of careful cultivation and training"[3]. As one of the Lǎo Zǐ's messages is that following the Dào takes practice and total commitment of one's soul, Hansen's interpretation is very appealing as he says "dé links dào", or, maybe, rather Dào, "with correct performance" and that "the 'powerful' performance achieves the dào's goal in real time"[4].
FOOTNOTES
[1] Hansen, Chad, "Taoism", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (editor).
[2] Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, translated by David Hinton, Counterpoint, Berkeley, CA, 2000, 97pp.
[3] Hansen, Chad, "Taoism", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (editor).
[4] Ibid.
FOOTNOTES
[1] Hansen, Chad, "Taoism", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (editor).
[2] Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, translated by David Hinton, Counterpoint, Berkeley, CA, 2000, 97pp.
[3] Hansen, Chad, "Taoism", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (editor).
[4] Ibid.