Review Zhuangzi’s Daoism Pipes of tian as response to anti- language paradox Pipes of tian as response to anti- language paradox Human debate about right dao is natural Human debate about right dao is natural All participants are behaving naturally— natural pipes All participants are behaving naturally— natural pipes Grants claims of Mozi, Mencius & Yang Grants claims of Mozi, Mencius & Yang But pulls 天 nature ’s normative teeth But pulls 天 nature ’s normative teeth Natural irrelevant as a reason for a dao Natural irrelevant as a reason for a dao

Refutation of 天 natural Intuition Mencius presupposes a 是 shi this:right Mencius presupposes a 是 shi this:right Shi the heart over other organs Shi the heart over other organs Shi the sage’s heart (cultivation) over fools Shi the sage’s heart (cultivation) over fools Priority of 道 dao guide over 天 tian nature:sky Priority of 道 dao guide over 天 tian nature:sky Nature, the cosmos not a moral authority Nature, the cosmos not a moral authority Does not shi-fei this-not this 是 非 Does not shi-fei this-not this 是 非 Care! Not ‘equal’ and not ‘don’t judge’ value Care! Not ‘equal’ and not ‘don’t judge’ value Equal is a normative judgment Equal is a normative judgment Equally natural is irrelevant Equally natural is irrelevant Naturally judge value—always from some dao Naturally judge value—always from some dao

Indexicals and Relativism The 墨辯 Later Mohist realists The 墨辯 Later Mohist realists World-guided language 同異 similar-different World-guided language 同異 similar-different Language (v noise) is about things Language (v noise) is about things However, what it is about is never fixed However, what it is about is never fixed Makes the point by using indexicals Makes the point by using indexicals Terms whose reference changes Terms whose reference changes E.g. I, you, today, here, now E.g. I, you, today, here, now Key indexical distinction is this/that是彼 Key indexical distinction is this/that是彼 Anything can be a 'this' or a 'that' Anything can be a 'this' or a 'that'

Questions Quiz: Analyze and evaluate Descartes’ argument “I think therefore I am” (Valid? Sound?)

No Argument: Punning Shift Slides from是彼 this/that to是 非 right/wrong Slides from是彼 this/that to是 非 right/wrong Evaluative judgments comparative Evaluative judgments comparative Beautiful/ugly, good/bad, large, tall, before Beautiful/ugly, good/bad, large, tall, before Hui Shi’s contribution Hui Shi’s contribution Language based on conventional indexicals shi-fei this-not this 是非 Language based on conventional indexicals shi-fei this-not this 是非 Each word 是 this-right of a thing—or not Each word 是 this-right of a thing—or not If language is not fixed, is it any different from twittering? If language is not fixed, is it any different from twittering? Or not? Or not?

What Conclusion? All is one? (no distinctions real) All is one? (no distinctions real) 惠 施 (Hui shi) draws this conclusion from comparative relativism 惠 施 (Hui shi) draws this conclusion from comparative relativism 天 地一體 "Heaven and earth form one body 天 地一體 "Heaven and earth form one body Zhuangzi rebuts it Zhuangzi rebuts it From where do we conclude that? From where do we conclude that? All judgment is perspectival All judgment is perspectival What perspective makes them all one? What perspective makes them all one? Tuesday’s warning—relativism dangerous and hard Tuesday’s warning—relativism dangerous and hard No “everything” judgments No “everything” judgments No absolutes from relativist premises No absolutes from relativist premises

All is One? This is an anti-language judgment This is an anti-language judgment No distinctions, no names No distinctions, no names Zhuangzi points out a consequence of the paradox Zhuangzi points out a consequence of the paradox If I make the judgment that all is one If I make the judgment that all is one Then that one and the judgment makes two Then that one and the judgment makes two The two and recognition that there are two make a third The two and recognition that there are two make a third Now no one can stop the progression. Now no one can stop the progression. Don't make the first judgment! Don't make the first judgment!

Ultimate Perspective?:Dao Axis 道樞 The point from which we have an infinite possibility of judgment 是非 The point from which we have an infinite possibility of judgment 是非 But no judgment is actually made But no judgment is actually made Like Laozi’s child.... Like Laozi’s child.... To make it would be to step off the axis To make it would be to step off the axis Start down one of the possible paths Start down one of the possible paths Still we do make judgments Still we do make judgments But always from somewhere on a dao But always from somewhere on a dao And on our way somewhere And on our way somewhere In awareness that in other positions, I would make different judgment In awareness that in other positions, I would make different judgment

Can't (Shouldn't?) Escape From Perspectives The Handan walk The Handan walk n Even if all humans agree, it doesn't make it right – Deer and fish n Even if all natural kinds agree, doesn't make it right – Maybe valuing life is not a mistake n Dream of the skull-pillow n Conclusion: no one knows anything? – No – I don't know if I have the correct distinction between knowing and not-knowing

So what advice? Truth relativism too strong Truth relativism too strong Stop making judgments? No. Stop making judgments? No. All perspectives are equal? No All perspectives are equal? No Hitler is just like Gandhi? No Hitler is just like Gandhi? No Strong skepticism doesn't entail anything Strong skepticism doesn't entail anything Local strong skepticism seems wrong Local strong skepticism seems wrong Fish happiness and skill Fish happiness and skill This is mild skepticism This is mild skepticism No argument against your perspective No argument against your perspective Keep making judgments about others Keep making judgments about others Just awareness that there are alternatives Just awareness that there are alternatives Hard to convince them and vice versa Hard to convince them and vice versa

So what advice? (2) Be open to alternative perspectives Be open to alternative perspectives Youth and flexibility Youth and flexibility The axis and the child The axis and the child Problem (?) Problem (?) Do the usual Do the usual Not anti-conventional or anti-language Not anti-conventional or anti-language But only pragmatic conclusion But only pragmatic conclusion The usual is communicable and hence useful The usual is communicable and hence useful The end of the matter The end of the matter Skill transcendence. Skill transcendence. Cook Ding 庖 丁 story Cook Ding 庖 丁 story Loss of self in activity Loss of self in activity Spontaneity, tranquility, satisfaction Spontaneity, tranquility, satisfaction Exercise of acquired skills Exercise of acquired skills

Problems Pull in opposite directions Pull in opposite directions Skill transcendence and openness Skill transcendence and openness Openness and acceptance of convention Openness and acceptance of convention Skill and defect Skill and defect Knowledge is limited and life is unlimited Knowledge is limited and life is unlimited Aiming for perfect skill is a mistake Aiming for perfect skill is a mistake

Back to the West Existentialism: Western Daoism Or Daoism: Chinese existentialism??