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The Tenuous Self: Wu-wei in the Zhuangzi
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Abstract
The Zhuangzian ideal of wu-wei resembles in certain respects that of Mencius, in that it represents a state in which one’s actions are perfectly harmonized with one’s “natural,” spontaneous inclinations. But whereas Mencius understands the “natural” in terms of human hierarchies and inherited cultural forms, Zhuangzian naturalness requires a transcendence of the human-particularly of the categories and valuations associated with that faculty so treasured by Mencius, the human heart/mind (xin ,C,,). Like Laozi, Zhuangzi uses wu-wei in a polemical fashion: as a tool to uncover the hidden tensions and difficulties in the thought of his predecessors. While Confucius and Mencius remain fairly silent on the subject of the paradox of wu-wei, Zhuangzi seems to take delight in it.
Title: The Tenuous Self: Wu-wei in the
Zhuangzi
Description:
Abstract
The Zhuangzian ideal of wu-wei resembles in certain respects that of Mencius, in that it represents a state in which one’s actions are perfectly harmonized with one’s “natural,” spontaneous inclinations.
But whereas Mencius understands the “natural” in terms of human hierarchies and inherited cultural forms, Zhuangzian naturalness requires a transcendence of the human-particularly of the categories and valuations associated with that faculty so treasured by Mencius, the human heart/mind (xin ,C,,).
Like Laozi, Zhuangzi uses wu-wei in a polemical fashion: as a tool to uncover the hidden tensions and difficulties in the thought of his predecessors.
While Confucius and Mencius remain fairly silent on the subject of the paradox of wu-wei, Zhuangzi seems to take delight in it.
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