review zhuangzi’s daoism
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Review Zhuangzi’s Daoism. Pipes of tian as response to anti-language paradox Human debate about right dao is natural All participants are behaving naturally—natural pipes Grants claims of Mozi, Mencius & Yang But pulls 天 nature ’s normative teeth - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Review Zhuangzi’s DaoismReview Zhuangzi’s Daoism
Pipes of Pipes of tiantian as response to anti- as response to anti-language paradoxlanguage paradox Human debate about Human debate about rightright daodao is is
naturalnatural All participants are behaving naturallyAll participants are behaving naturally
—natural pipes—natural pipes Grants claims of Mozi, Mencius & Grants claims of Mozi, Mencius &
YangYang But pulls But pulls 天天 naturenature’s normative teeth’s normative teeth Natural irrelevant as a reason for a Natural irrelevant as a reason for a daodao
Refutation of Refutation of 天天 naturalnatural IntuitionIntuition Mencius presupposes a Mencius presupposes a 是 是 shishithis:rightthis:right
ShiShi the heart over other organs the heart over other organs ShiShi the sage’s heart (cultivation) over fools the sage’s heart (cultivation) over fools
Priority of Priority of 道道 daodaoguideguide over over 天 天 tiantiannature:skynature:sky Nature, the cosmos not a moral authorityNature, the cosmos not a moral authority Does not Does not shi-feishi-feithis-not thisthis-not this 是 非是 非
Care! Not ‘equal’ and not ‘don’t judge’ Care! Not ‘equal’ and not ‘don’t judge’ valuevalue Equal is a normative judgment Equal is a normative judgment
Equally Equally naturalnatural is irrelevant is irrelevant Naturally judge value—always from some Naturally judge value—always from some dao dao
Indexicals and RelativismIndexicals and Relativism
The The 墨辯 墨辯 Later Mohist realistsLater Mohist realists World-guided language World-guided language 同異同異 similar-differentsimilar-different
Language (v noise) is Language (v noise) is aboutabout things things However, However, whatwhat it is about is never fixed it is about is never fixed Makes the point by using indexicalsMakes the point by using indexicals
Terms whose reference changesTerms whose reference changes E.g. E.g. II, , youyou, , todaytoday, , herehere, , nownow
Key indexical distinction is Key indexical distinction is thisthis//thatthat 是彼是彼 Anything can be a 'this' or a 'that'Anything can be a 'this' or a 'that'
QuestionsQuestions
Quiz: Analyze and Quiz: Analyze and evaluate Descartes’ evaluate Descartes’ argument “I think argument “I think
therefore I am” (Valid? therefore I am” (Valid? Sound?)Sound?)
No Argument: Punning ShiftNo Argument: Punning Shift Slides fromSlides from 是彼是彼 this/thatthis/that to to 是 非是 非 right/wrongright/wrong
Evaluative judgments comparativeEvaluative judgments comparative Beautiful/ugly, good/bad, large, tall, beforeBeautiful/ugly, good/bad, large, tall, before
Hui Shi’s contributionHui Shi’s contribution
Language based on conventional Language based on conventional indexicalsindexicals shi-fei shi-feithis-not thisthis-not this 是非是非
Each word Each word 是是 this-rightthis-right of a thing—or not of a thing—or not
If language is not fixed, is it any If language is not fixed, is it any different from twittering? different from twittering? Or not?Or not?
What Conclusion?What Conclusion?
All is one? (no distinctions real)All is one? (no distinctions real) 惠 施 惠 施 ((Hui shi) draws this conclusion Hui shi) draws this conclusion
from comparative relativismfrom comparative relativism 天 地一體 天 地一體 ""Heaven and earth form one Heaven and earth form one
bodybody
Zhuangzi rebuts itZhuangzi rebuts it From From wherewhere do we conclude that? do we conclude that?
All judgment is perspectivalAll judgment is perspectival What perspective makes them all one?What perspective makes them all one?
Tuesday’s warning—relativism dangerous and hardTuesday’s warning—relativism dangerous and hard No “everything” judgments No “everything” judgments No absolutes from relativist premisesNo absolutes from relativist premises
All is One?All is One? This is an anti-language judgmentThis is an anti-language judgment
No distinctions, no namesNo distinctions, no names Zhuangzi points out a consequence of Zhuangzi points out a consequence of
the paradoxthe paradox If I make the judgment that all is oneIf I make the judgment that all is one
Then that one and the judgment makes twoThen that one and the judgment makes two The two and recognition that there are two The two and recognition that there are two
make a third make a third Now no one can stop the progression.Now no one can stop the progression.
Don't make the first judgment! Don't make the first judgment!
Ultimate Perspective?:Dao AxisUltimate Perspective?:Dao Axis 道道樞樞
The point from which we have an The point from which we have an infinite infinite possibilitypossibility of judgment of judgment 是非是非 But no judgment is actually madeBut no judgment is actually made
Like Laozi’s child. . . .Like Laozi’s child. . . . To make it would be to step off the axis To make it would be to step off the axis
Start down one of the possible pathsStart down one of the possible paths
Still we do make judgmentsStill we do make judgments But always from somewhere on a But always from somewhere on a daodao
And on our way somewhereAnd on our way somewhere In awareness that in other positions, I In awareness that in other positions, I
would make different judgmentwould make different judgment
Can't (Shouldn't?) Escape From Can't (Shouldn't?) Escape From PerspectivesPerspectives
The Handan walkThe Handan walk
Even if all humans agree, it doesn't make it right
–Deer and fishEven if all natural kinds agree, doesn't make it right
–Maybe valuing life is not a mistakeDream of the skull-pillowConclusion: no one knows anything?
–No–I don't know if I have the correct distinction between knowing and not-knowing
So what advice?So what advice? Truth relativism too strongTruth relativism too strong
Stop making judgments? No.Stop making judgments? No. All perspectives are equal? NoAll perspectives are equal? No
Hitler is just like Gandhi? NoHitler is just like Gandhi? No
Strong skepticism doesn't entail anythingStrong skepticism doesn't entail anything Local Local strong strong skepticism seems wrongskepticism seems wrong
Fish happiness and skillFish happiness and skill
This is mild skepticismThis is mild skepticism No argument No argument againstagainst your perspective your perspective
Keep making judgments about othersKeep making judgments about others Just awareness that there are alternativesJust awareness that there are alternatives
Hard to convince them and vice versaHard to convince them and vice versa
So what advice? (2)So what advice? (2) Be open to alternative perspectivesBe open to alternative perspectives
Youth and flexibilityYouth and flexibility The axis and the childThe axis and the child
Problem (?)Problem (?) Do the usualDo the usual
Not anti-conventional or anti-languageNot anti-conventional or anti-language But only pragmatic conclusionBut only pragmatic conclusion
The usual is communicable and hence usefulThe usual is communicable and hence useful The end of the matterThe end of the matter
Skill transcendence.Skill transcendence. Cook DingCook Ding 庖 丁庖 丁 storystory Loss of self in activityLoss of self in activity Spontaneity, tranquility, satisfactionSpontaneity, tranquility, satisfaction Exercise of acquired skillsExercise of acquired skills
ProblemsProblems
Pull in opposite directionsPull in opposite directions Skill transcendence and opennessSkill transcendence and openness Openness and acceptance of Openness and acceptance of
conventionconvention Skill and defectSkill and defect
Knowledge is limited and life is unlimitedKnowledge is limited and life is unlimited Aiming for Aiming for perfect perfect skill is a mistakeskill is a mistake
Back to the WestBack to the West
Existentialism: Western Existentialism: Western DaoismDaoism
Or Daoism: Chinese Or Daoism: Chinese existentialism??existentialism??