Liberation as Affirmation

The Religiosity of Zhuangzi and Nietzsche

Ge Ling Shang

• Publisher: SUNY Press
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780791466681, 9780791466674
• eBook ISBN: 9780791482247
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Eastern Philosophy

Uses the concept of religiosity to challenge traditional views of Nietzsche and Zhuangzi as nihilistic and anti-religious.

In this book, author Ge Ling Shang provides a systematic comparison of original texts by Zhuangzi (fourth century BCE) and Nietzsche (1846–1900), under the rubric of religiosity, to challenge those who have customarily relegated both thinkers to relativism, nihilism, escapism, pessimism, or anti-religion. Shang closely examines Zhuangzi's and Nietzsche's respective critiques of metaphysics, morals, language, knowledge, and humanity in general and proposes a conception of the philosophical outlooks of Zhuangzi and Nietzsche as complementary. In the creative and vital spirit of Nietzsche, as in the tranquil and inward spirit of Zhuangzi, Shang argues that a surprisingly similar vision and aspiration toward human liberation and freedom exists-one in which spiritual transformation is possible by religiously affirming life in this world as sacred and divine.

Table of contents

• LIBERATION AS AFFIRMATION
• CONTENTS
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• 1. INTRODUCTION
• 2. ZHUANGZI’S DAO: A WAY OF FREEDOM
• 3. NIETZSCHE’S PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE AFFIRMATION
• 4. AN INTERPLAY BETWEEN ZHUANGZI AND NIETZSCHE
• 5. CONVERGING NEW WORLDS: ZHUANGZI,NIETZSCHE, AND CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY