The Nietzsche Podcast 128: Zhuangzi - Free & Easy Wandering
Jan 6, 2026
Dive into the indeterminate nature of truth with Zhuangzi as the podcast explores the idea that identity is fluid. Discover the intriguing concept of 'uselessness' and how it can provide existential advantages. The conversation contrasts fixed identity with the freedom of carefree wandering. Listen to the fascinating dialogue between Zhuangzi and Huizi on language and perspective, and why seeking office may hinder true freedom. The discussion wraps up with insights on living without attachment, embracing both life's challenges and joys.
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Philosophy Of Indeterminacy
- Zhuangzi treats truth as indeterminate and uses multiple rhetorical modes to avoid fixed doctrines.
- He prefers spontaneous "goblet words" that flow without becoming rigid prescriptions.
Three Kinds Of Words
- Zhuangzi distinguishes lodged, weighty, and flowing words as different rhetorical tools.
- He values flowing "goblet words" as spontaneous expressions rather than doctrines to be fixed.
The Useless Oak
- Carpenter Shi calls a vast oak "worthless" because it cannot be used as timber and passes it by.
- The oak dreams that its uselessness preserved it from being cut and allowed it to live long.
