As I wait for the hiring process to finish up, I’m continuing visiting friends and helping family. If things go according to plan, this will be my last week of leisure.

Introduction to Chinese Philosophy

More notes on my favorite undergraduate philosophy textbook.

Chapter 8: The Daodejing and Mysticism

Questions:

What are three surprising facts about Daoism, Laozi, and the Daodejing?

• Daoism didn’t exist in ancient China: Much like the “school of names” Daoism wasn’t a organized, single school. The term “Daoism” came during the Han dynasty.
• Laozi didn’t exist: His name is generic (“old master”) and nobody really knows if he existed.
• The Dao De Jing isn’t about being mellow, following bliss, or taking life easy.

What is the story of Kongzi’s meeting with Laozi?

• Laozi rebuked Kongzi upon meeting, and had three points against him: He saw the word of the ancestors as meaningless, that pursuing officialdom when the authorities don’t want to hear your message is meaningless, and that he was arrogant.

According to tradition, what did Laozi do when he saw the decline of the Zhou dynasty?

• He rode an ox west.

According to the Daodejing, how should society change?

• It should become smaller, more local, and more primitive. (道德经第八十章)

What is nonaction and how does it differ from not acting?

• 无为 is similar to “flow” and knowing intuitively what to do in any situation. “Doing what is natural”
• 《孟子公孙丑上》：“虽有智慧，不如乘势；虽有镃基，不如待时” – Although having knowledge, it is not equal to seizing the opportunity. Although having instruments of farming, it is not equal to knowing the seasons."
• “The moment you have to think about juggling is the moment you drop the balls.”

Explain the distinction between “knowing how” and “knowing that.” Give an example of each.

• You might “know that” playing piano consists of pressing keys in rhythm but not know how to.

Why are names potentially problematic?

• The language used by humans project artificial distinctions into the world.
• 《庄子外物第十三章》：“荃者所以在魚，得魚而忘荃；蹄者所以在兔，得兔而忘蹄；言者所以在意，得意而忘言。吾安得忘言之人而與之言哉！” – Traps are used to catch fish, but can be forgotten after catching the fish. Snares are used to catch hares but can be forgotten after catching the hares. Words are for meaning, when you get the meaning you can forget the words. Where’s somebody who has forgotten words so I can have a word with him!

What is mysticism in general? How does Daoist mysticism differ from classical Christian mysticism?

• The author defines mysticism as a view where there is a kind of knowledge that cannot be adequately expressed in words but is important to human life.
• Christianity: Mystical knowledge is a sort of spiritual vision or feeling that reveals a realm of existence that transcends the ordinary world. This experience is valuable and may indirectly support being a good person since it supports faith, hope, and love which could lead to virtue. And this experience would not detract from ordinary ethics.
• Daoism: Mystical knowledge is embodied in certain practical activities that are performed in the everyday world. The manifestation of mystical knowledge in practical action is the highest ethical activity.

What distinctive innovation did the Daodejing make involving the concept of the Way?

• While Kongzi would liken the way to “carving and polishing jade” and Mengzi recommending cultivating ethical inclinations, Daoism would say not to force anything and instead to empty our hearts and be guided.

Explain the via negativa.

• “negative way” – Gestures at something by using terms that suggest emptiness and absence, implying these negative descriptions less misleading than positive descriptions.
• example: 《道德经第十四章》：“视而不见，名曰夷” – That which cannot be seen can be named “夷”

How is the metaphor of “unhewn wood” an implicit criticism of the Confucianism of Kongzi and Mengzi?

• Compared to how Kongzi and Mengzi think that there is action that must be taken to follow the way (carving, polishing, cultivating, etc.) Daoism would liken it to wood that has not been changed.

Discuss how strategic concepts drawn from the Daodejing have been applied in other areas of human experience.

• There are some similarities between Daoism and Buddhism such as its meditation-like breath control and metaphor of the mind as a mirror.
• The later Legalist text “Han Feizi” uses it to describe personal strategy such as being unseen, observing, and making sure nobody can guess your intentions.
• Judo is using the power of the opponent against them, which is very 无为.

Things I’m Liking:

• Playing To Win - David Sirlin: An online book about competitive gaming drawing from the author’s experience in the scene, and a section taking inspiration from Sun Zi’s Art of War.
• Sinographs written differently on the Mainland, in Hong Kong, and on Taiwan: A short article about some differences in sinographs between three areas, including some difficulties in switching between them.
• The toll of the trolls: From the same blog as above. It’s about a new word (杠精) which means “online person that likes to argue non-constructively.”
• The politics of “Maria” in Taiwan: One more from the same blog, about how a common name in a certain usage is considered politically incorrect.