How do you explain common people being useful and scholars useless?

[Ervin]

The question is pretty much in the title. I was just listening to Tao te Ching on audible and it said common people are useful and scholars are useless. 
I mean we need scholars, we need doctors, professors, etc.

How do you explain this verse?

 

Thanks

[Taoist Texts]

2 hours ago, Ervin said:

mean we need scholars, we need doctors, professors

No we don't need those brainwashers. Our overlords do.

[Nintendao]

Commoner:

"It's hot in here. I'ma open the window."

*gets up and opens window, then sits back down and breathes fresh air.

 

Scholar:

"Well, you see, before embarking on the endeavor of opening a window, it's important to be aware of what we are getting ourselves into. First let's begin by taking a look at the origins of the window itself. It is believed that the first windows appeared in structures constructed by the house builders of a certain region, either during the end of one era, or the beginning of the next. While there remains some debate about at what point a wall-hole becomes an actual window, for the purposes of the present exploration, we must assume that the window in question has, as part of its construction, at least some type of covering that can be manipulated at will by the occupant residing in the overall structure. Now, moving on to the process required to fully take hold of the covering and engage it in such a manner so as to transition it from the default configuration into whatever result may then be considered to be more-or-less open, there are of course safety precautions that must be observed. Windows are notorious for being finicky, particularly during climactic conditions that affect them. Thus, the wise window-opener will first adopt a stance of stability and deftness, which can only be established with preparation and, of course, a working knowledge of at least the most rudimentary physics and material composition. Accomplishing this is no trivial feat, lest one.. become..

*uses up all the oxygen in their brain by talking incessantly without taking a breath of fresh air and then passes out, continuing to dream in vivid detail about window-opening adventures.

[snowymountains]

Perhaps it's using a hyperbole to do a reanchoring, steering towards paying significant attention and see value in all people, including "common" people.

[Maddie]

A lot of the TTC needs to be understood in the context under which it was written (as with any other work of literature). It was mostly written during the waring states period in ancient China and it was a competing philosophy with Confucianism as well as several other schools of philosophy that emerged during this time period and were all competing with each other to gain favor with the Emperor. This attack on scholars is most likely an attack on Confucianism as they were considered the "scholars".    

Edited June 15 by Maddie

[Ervin]

Maybe it’s because scholars seek prestige, money and power over others.

[Apech]

Nous = no use

 

 

[silent thunder]

I'd rather be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war?

[Forestgreen]

42 minutes ago, silent thunder said:

I'd rather be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war?

Sam agrees with you, but a gardener got to do what a gardener got to do. 

 

[Tosti]

Just observe the people around you...