On View of Nature that Differs in Thought of Hui Shi and Zhuangzi

Title

On View of Nature that Differs in Thought of Hui Shi and Zhuangzi

Author

Hsi-San LAI

Page

129-176

DOI

10.6163/tjeas.2011.8(2)129

Abstract

This paper begins with the ”view of nature,” to discuss two types of contrasting thought in the debate between Hui Shi and Zhuangzi: Hui Shi's thought is more similar to consideration of phenomenon, logical deduction, and Zhuangzi is more similar to intuition and poetic metaphor. The first deals with the opposition between the object and subject (I and it), while the latter deals with the blending of the object and subject (l and you). The first is a human-centered ideological practical and utilitarian stance (from the perspective of I), and the latter is an artistic stance that transcends humanity in the great utility of uselessness (from the perspective of Dao). The two are reflected in the different views on nature. Classified based on the Heideggerian concept, the former sees nature as an object and resource of energy, while the latter sees nature as the sacred homeland in which heaven, earth, people, and gods live. Hui Shi and Zhuangzi's different views on language, thinking, and nature also lead to two ethical attitudes toward oneself and toward the world. The former leads to a power ethics based on things (from the self), while the latter leads to a primitive ethics that loves things (death of self). This paper believed that Zhuangzi's love for all things as one and his primitive ethical view can engage in an artistic criticism and aesthetic recuperation of the overexpansion of modern technology, which has resulted in the differentiation between objects and the self.

Keyword

Zhuangzi, Hui Shi, Heidegger, technique, art, nature, power

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