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??