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Review: Ethical Types and Daoism Two broad types of normative theory Teleological (future) and deontological (duty, merit, past) Two units of analysis Act and larger (rule, discourse, tradition, dao) Grid of 4 & Mencius is Act Deontology Entails intuitionism as meta-ethical epistemology Metaphysical development adds 理 li principle to 氣 qi life-force
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Daoism Origins: Ethos and theory Reconstructing, not historical affiliations Ethos (anti social/moral) hermits and Yang Zhu Theory--meta-focus on 'dao' Meaning of, nature of, knowledge of etc. First theoretical Daoist = Shen Dao Theory of dao as course of action Summed to include the whole world through time
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Determinism and Fatalism Shen Dao: One past actual course Many possibilities but one actual future course Abandon Knowledge You don't need knowledge to follow 大道 the great dao You will: "even a clod of earth cannot miss" Whatever actually happens is 大道 Reductio of Mozi/Mencius naturalism? Nothing more natural than the actual
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Two Determinisms & Fatalism Logical, Scientific, Fatalistic What will be will be (tautology) Scientific: induction on experience Everything caused/predictable in advance Neither entails fatalism (soft determinism) Especially Shen Dao—only logical det. Other problems Unnatural “natural” guide—use language, make shi-fei judgments, have know-how Prescriptive Paradox: To obey is to disobey C.f. collectively defeating morality
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Questions Mencius says the heart-mind has an innate shi-fei intuition. Discuss Zhuangzi’s rebuttal of that position. Coffee tutorial Thurs 1 PM Next week—submit times and numbers 10+
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Analysis of "Knowledge" Laozi accepts abandon knowledge But not 大道 fatalism (non-dao) Discourse 道 daos: come in opposites Names 名 (opposites) Distinctions (implied: one per pair) Desires 欲 Innovation: desires generated by names 為 wei deem:do action
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Problem: Same Paradox? Distinction of natural and conventional desires Forms of social constraint Language distorts by gross distinction while there are infinite shades in nature Desire to be natural Act on the desire (forgetting) 無 為 wu lack wei deem:do a paradox Wu-wei and yet wu-bu-wei 無不為 no concept guided action
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No Constant Dao 道可道非常道 Any dao that guides is not constant dao-ing Because based on 名 and 名可名非常名 Any name that names is not constant name-ing Negative 道 dao guide by emphasizing opposite virtues= 反 reversal Passive, lower, water, cool, submissive, female Constant 道 dao guide ? Unspeakable?
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Relevance to Mencius The intuitions that Confucians think are natural are socially cultivated Burial, filial piety, attitudes to authority Status, wealth, style Hong Kong slavery Innate 天 道 is very thin Eat, sleep, children, farm, small villages
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Common Anti-language Problem 墨 辯 Mohist semantic analysis: To say “ language bad ” is bad 以言為盡誖誖也(不可) :說在其言 Paradox of the liar This sentence is false Both truth and falsity are contradictory All Sentences are false Not a paradox But false Challenge to Zhuangzi
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Puzzle All language distorts the 道 dao
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Zhuangzi: Textual Issues Relation to Laozi Probably earlier—didn’t know he was 道家 No contact or knowledge Refer to as Confucian in Inner Chapters Outer Chapters dialogues a Zhuangist Project a similarity of focus Construction of desires from language/culture Relation to School of Names 名 家 closer Friend of 惠 施 Hui Shi Deals with anti-language paradox better than Hui Shi or Laozi
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Pipes of 天 tian nature:sky Human voices and arguing about philosophy is natural Like birds tweeting and frogs croaking Gives Yangzhu, Mozi and Mencius what they want Not worth anything Want authority over rivals and 天 tian nature:sky fails Hint from Shen Dao — no normative content Pure fact — no ought/value
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Priority of Dao over 天 Must presuppose a 道 dao guide For a Daoist, 道 dao guide the authority, not 天 tian nature:sky The cosmos doesn't make guiding judgments-- all from a 道 dao guide Cannot escape responsibility for our own dao judgments Should I follow 天 tian nature:sky ? No matter what authority
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Refutation of Mencius Should follow our hearts and should follow 天 tian nature:sky ( 性 xing nature ) All organs are equally natural C.f. Mencius' weeds How do you 是 shi this:right a favorite? Rely on the 心 xin heart-mind ? Begs the question Take turns or have no ruler?
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