Dates
April 15, 2021
Notes
Transformation and skeptical questioning
PDFs
If I tell you not to follow a dao, am I in fact asking you to follow a dao —the dao of not following daos? Is there such a dao? How can you follow the dao of someone who claims there may be no correct dao? A warning: The Zhuangzi is a strikingly nutty and philosophically deep text!
The Zhuangzi requires imaginative reading and engagement. It's at once funny, outrageous, probing, and fearless. Our reading of the Lunyu and Mozi will help make parts of it more accessible. I'll help provide historical and philosophical context as we move through.
You should read ALL of the first 7 chapters (the 'Inner Chapters' or Nei Pian 內篇) in one go before circling back. You’ll be confused at points but it's good to have a general overview of these 'Inner Chapters'. We will likely only get through Chapter 1 and part of Chapter 2 on the first date, so focus on those after the initial run through.
Primary Text Readings
Ziporyn, Zhuangzi: The Complete Writings, Introduction; Chapter 1; Chapter 2
