New Books in Philosophy Christine Abigail L. Tan, "Freedom's Frailty: Self-Realization in the Neo-Daoist Philosophy of Guo Xiang's Zhuangzhi" (SUNY Press, 2024)
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May 21, 2024 
Christine Abigail L. Tan discusses interpreting the Zhuangzi through Guo Xiang for political insight. She explains Guo's logic of convergence and use of self-realization for political transformation. The podcast explores misconceptions in Guo's teachings, contrasts Chinese and Western views on freedom, and delves into Guo's interpretation of Neo-Daoism and self-realization.
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Freedom As Dependent, Not Fatalistic
- Guo Xiang champions a form of freedom that is both metaphysical and political rather than fatalistic.
- He conceives freedom as a radical form of dependence, not absolute autonomy.
How Tan Discovered Guo Xiang
- Christine Tan first became interested in Guo Xiang when she found his commentary systematic and philosophically rigorous.
- She credits Guo Xiang with making Chinese classical thought feel systematic to a Western-trained philosopher.
Guo Xiang Shaped The Zhuangzi Text
- Guo Xiang compiled the received form of the Zhuangzi and is its primary commentator.
- His editorial work shapes how we read the Zhuangzi today.