Being Spontaneous

Abstract The theme of spontaneity has long been associated with Daoist philosophy. It refers to a more engaged and less formulaic approach to life. This discussion examines three stories about mastery in the Zhuangzi, a Daoist text from the Warring States period. All three involve the figure of Confucius, who takes on different roles in the stories: sometimes as Zhuangzian spokesperson; sometimes as inquirer, seeking to learn; and sometimes as an instructor who aims to impart Daoist insights but does not succeed. By considering the narratives in these accounts, including Confucius’s roles in them, three key elements of spontaneity are articulated. They are: responsiveness as an epistemological attitude that seeks to engage with the world, the embodied and in-the-moment nature of spontaneity, and spontaneity’s aversion to codification. These considerations generate a new understanding of spontaneity; apart from highlighting these features, it also claims that spontaneity comes at a cost.