The Shijing, also known as the Classic of Poetry or Book of Odes, is the earliest Chinese poetry anthology. It includes 305 poems from the Western Zhou to the Spring and Autumn period, offering insights into ancient Chinese life, culture, and society. The collection is divided into four main sections: 'Airs of the States', 'Minor Court Hymns', 'Major Court Hymns', and 'Eulogies'.
The Zhuangzi is a compilation of writings attributed to Zhuang Zhou and his followers. It consists of 33 chapters, divided into 'Inner Chapters' (chapters 1-7), 'Outer Chapters' (chapters 8-22), and 'Miscellaneous Chapters' (chapters 23-33). The text advocates for embracing spontaneity, accepting the natural order of the universe (the Dao), and living a life free from the constraints of societal norms and conventions. It uses parables, anecdotes, and humorous stories to illustrate the arbitrariness of human distinctions and the importance of living in harmony with nature.
Exhalation is a collection of nine stories by Ted Chiang, each tackling different aspects of human existence, science, and philosophy. The stories range from 'The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate,' which involves time travel and regret in ancient Baghdad, to 'Exhalation,' where an alien scientist discovers the universal implications of his people’s mechanical existence. Other notable stories include 'The Lifecycle of Software Objects,' which explores the ethics of artificial intelligence, and 'Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom,' which examines choice and free will through alternate universes. Chiang’s writing is characterized by its elegance, precision, and deep sympathy for his characters, making this collection a must-read for fans of science fiction that challenges the mind and evokes a sense of wonder.
The Tao Te Ching is a central text in Taoist philosophy and religion. It consists of 81 brief chapters or sections that discuss the nature of the Tao, which is described as the source and ideal of all existence. The text emphasizes living in harmony with nature, the importance of simplicity, humility, and the interconnectedness of all things. It critiques unnatural actions and social activism based on abstract moralism, advocating for a life of 'nonaction' (wu wei) and spontaneity. The text has been highly influential in Chinese philosophy and has been translated numerous times, making it one of the most translated texts in world literature[2][3][4].
The Illuminatus Trilogy is a complex and multifaceted work that blends elements of science fiction, satire, and conspiracy theories. The narrative is nonlinear, switching between third- and first-person perspectives, and includes a wide range of themes such as counterculture, numerology, and Discordianism. The story involves a millennia-old conflict between the Illuminati and the Discordian Society, incorporating historical references and surrealist fantasy. It features a diverse array of characters and scenarios, including talking dolphins, secret societies, and historical figures, all woven together in a style that challenges the reader's perceptions of reality and believability. The trilogy was written by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson during their time as associate editors at Playboy magazine, inspired by the paranoid correspondence they received on civil liberties[2][4][5].
Finnegans Wake is James Joyce's final and most complex work, written over a period of seventeen years. The novel is set in a dream world where the protagonist, Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker (HCE), and his family—wife Anna Livia Plurabelle (ALP) and their children Shem, Shaun, and Issy—undergo various transformations and identities. The book is known for its innovative use of language, combining elements from multiple languages and creating new words through portmanteaus and puns. It explores themes of identity, history, and the cyclical nature of life, drawing on Irish mythology, biblical narratives, and personal experiences. The novel's structure is circular, ending with the sentence that begins the book, creating a continuous loop[3][4][5].
Cixin Liu's 'The Three-Body Problem' is a critically acclaimed science fiction novel that blends hard science with compelling storytelling. The story follows a group of scientists who make contact with an alien civilization, leading to unforeseen consequences for humanity. Liu's intricate world-building and exploration of complex scientific and philosophical themes have earned him widespread recognition. The novel is known for its ambitious scope and its exploration of the potential challenges and dangers of encountering extraterrestrial life. It's a thought-provoking work that has captivated readers worldwide.
Audrey Tang began reading classical works like the Shūjīng and Tao Te Ching at the age of 5 and learned the programming language Perl at the age of 12. Now, the autodidact and self-described “conservative anarchist” is a software engineer and the first non-binary digital minister of Taiwan. Their work focuses on how social and digital technologies can foster empathy, democracy, and human progress.
Audrey joined Tyler to discuss how Taiwan approached regulating Chinese tech companies, the inherent extraterritoriality of data norms, how Finnegans Wake has influenced their approach to technology, the benefits of radical transparency in communication, why they appreciate the laziness of Perl, using “humor over rumor” to combat online disinformation, why Taiwan views democracy as a set of social technologies, how their politics have been influenced by Taiwan’s indigenous communities and their oral culture, what Chinese literature teaches about change, how they view Confucianism as a Daoist, how they would improve Taiwanese education, why they view mistakes in the American experiment as inevitable – but not insurmountable, the role of civic tech in Taiwan’s pandemic response, the most important remnants of Japanese influence remaining in Taiwan, why they love Magic: The Gathering, the transculturalism that makes Taiwan particularly open and accepting of LGBT lifestyles, growing up with parents who were journalists, how being transgender makes them more empathetic, the ways American values still underpin the internet, what they learned from previous Occupy movements, why translation, rotation, and scaling are important skills for becoming a better thinker, and more.
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Recorded September 24th, 2020 Other ways to connect
Conversations with Tyler 
