History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China HPC 41. To Speak or Not to Speak: Skepticism in the Zhuangzi
Nov 23, 2025
Delve into the intriguing world of the Zhuangzi and discover its radical skepticism. Explore how this ancient text unsettled Victorian thinkers like Oscar Wilde. The discussion highlights the limits of wisdom and knowledge, critiquing figures such as Confucius and Mozi. Unpack the paradox of identity through the famous Butterfly Dream. The hosts contrast radical skepticism with the value of different perspectives, advocating for understanding and epistemic modesty. Dive into the richness of philosophical inquiry with playful insights!
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Oscar Wilde's Entertaining Review
- Oscar Wilde reviewed an English translation of the Zhuangzi and found it dangerously iconoclastic and socially unsettling.
- He enjoyed its wit and thought it would shake respectable Victorian readers out of complacency.
Targeting Competing Philosophies
- The Zhuangzi relentlessly criticizes rival schools like Mohism and Confucianism, treating their doctrines as constraining.
- Key figures such as Hu Tzu, Kongzi, and Gongsunlong are repeatedly outmatched or mocked in its stories.
Indexicals Show Relativity Of Claims
- Chapter 2 uses indexicals like this and that to show truth depends on standpoint and context.
- Zhuangzi argues that different claims can be true from different perspectives rather than universally fixed.
