Liberation as Affirmation: The Religiosity of Zhuangzi and Nietzsche

CONTENTS

CONTENTS Acknowledgments ix Chapter 1. Introduction 1 Reinterpreting Zhuangzi and Nietzsche 2 Perspective on Comparative Philosophy 4 Method and Plan 5 Chapter 2. Zhuangzi’s Dao: A Way of Freedom 9 The Concept of Dao in Early Chinese History 11 Wuwu: A Deconstruction of Metaphysical Perspectives of Dao 15 Dao Throughs as One 23 Wuzhi: Equalizing Opinions is the Way of True Knowledge 29 Language without Words: Beyond Language and Silence 37 Wuwei or Non-doing: Against the Tradition of Morality 46 Xiao Yao You: A Spiritual Freedom Realized in this World 52 Chapter 3. Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Life Affirmation 59 Nietzsche’s Mission: Revaluation of All Values 60 Genealogy: A New Way of Philosophizing 67 Truth, Knowledge, and Morals 71 Metaphysics as a Symptom of Human Decadence 72 Truths as Lies and Will to Truth as Ascetic Ideal 76 Language and Truth 78 Does Nietzsche Renounce the Existence of Truth? 79 A Genealogical Critique of Morality 80 Overcoming Metaphysics 83 The World of Appearances and the Will to Power 86 Religiosity: Liberation as Life Affirmation 93 vii Chapter 4. An Interplay between Zhuangzi and Nietzsche 103 Goblet Words and Dionysian Dithyramb 104 Truth, Knowledge, and Interpretation 108 Revaluation and Devaluation: Beyond Good and Evil 113 Nature as Primary Unity 118 True Person and Übermensch: Living in the World 125 Ziran and Freedom: Life Affirmation 131 Further Reflections on Differences Between Zhuangzi and Nietzsche 134 Chapter 5. Converging New Worlds: Zhuangzi, Nietzsche, and Contemporary Philosophy 137 Affirmation after Deconstruction: Zhuangzi and Nietzsche Challenge Postmodern Solutions 138 The Liberation of Thought: Zhuangzi and Nietzsche in Contemporary China 146 Philosophical Religiosity 153 Notes 165 Selected References 181 Index 189 viii CONTENTS ...