Daoism Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The Daoist classic Zhuangzi teaches not a single doctrine, but a method to approach all doctrines and situations by shifting perspectives and adapting our courses of action. This foundational work of Chinese philosophy, full of witty and irreverent humor, language games, extravagant characters, parables, and argumentative essays, will not leave you unchanged!
The limits of knowledge, the efficacy of action, death and happiness, change and transformations, friendship and humor, perspectivism and skepticism, playfulness and freedom, emptiness and the dao. The Zhuangzi is about living, thinking, knowing, acting, feeling, loving, changing, and dying well in a messy world.
This class follows the format of a graduate seminar. We read the text prior to class in an active, critical, and reflective manner (i.e. taking notes, asking questions, identifying themes and arguments, searching relevant concepts, acknowledging the literary form and style, finding secondary sources for further explanation, coming up with our own readings and interpretations, etc.). In class, we read line by line together and discuss until we are ready to move on to the next chapter. Readings will be provided in English, and no prior knowledge of Chinese is required.