Reversal Is the Movement of the Way: The Deleuzian Reconceptualization of Daoist Paradox

This paper aims to unravel the underlying resonance between the Daoist Way and the Deleuzian idea of an aleatory point. The Daoist Way is explicated as the <i>zhong dao</i> 中道 or the Middle-Way, viewed in terms of interactivity between such Daoist-seeming polarities as <i>you</i...

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Main Author: Chungmin Maria Tu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/11/1392
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author Chungmin Maria Tu
author_facet Chungmin Maria Tu
author_sort Chungmin Maria Tu
collection DOAJ
description This paper aims to unravel the underlying resonance between the Daoist Way and the Deleuzian idea of an aleatory point. The Daoist Way is explicated as the <i>zhong dao</i> 中道 or the Middle-Way, viewed in terms of interactivity between such Daoist-seeming polarities as <i>you</i>/<i>wu</i> (determinate/indeterminate) and Yin and Yang. The first part of the paper approaches the Daoist Way in terms of the concept of <i>zhong</i> 中 or the “Middle”, to explore the functionality of the Way and to comprehend the Chinese philosophical concept of the Middle, using the Deleuzian lens of the “aleatory point”. The “Middle” here is understood as process, change, or flux, whose volatility is not representational or repeatable. It is this irrepresentability that renders the concept of the “Middle” comparable with the Deleuzian notion of aleatory point. The second part of the paper probes the most fundamental paradoxes revolving around the Daoist Middle-Way to unveil the relationship between the Way and Chaos and to deconstruct the traditional misconception of Yin/Yang dynamics as unity.
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spelling doaj.art-3cb88318eae3446baec06b46c12954132023-11-24T15:03:52ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-11-011411139210.3390/rel14111392Reversal Is the Movement of the Way: The Deleuzian Reconceptualization of Daoist ParadoxChungmin Maria Tu0Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USAThis paper aims to unravel the underlying resonance between the Daoist Way and the Deleuzian idea of an aleatory point. The Daoist Way is explicated as the <i>zhong dao</i> 中道 or the Middle-Way, viewed in terms of interactivity between such Daoist-seeming polarities as <i>you</i>/<i>wu</i> (determinate/indeterminate) and Yin and Yang. The first part of the paper approaches the Daoist Way in terms of the concept of <i>zhong</i> 中 or the “Middle”, to explore the functionality of the Way and to comprehend the Chinese philosophical concept of the Middle, using the Deleuzian lens of the “aleatory point”. The “Middle” here is understood as process, change, or flux, whose volatility is not representational or repeatable. It is this irrepresentability that renders the concept of the “Middle” comparable with the Deleuzian notion of aleatory point. The second part of the paper probes the most fundamental paradoxes revolving around the Daoist Middle-Way to unveil the relationship between the Way and Chaos and to deconstruct the traditional misconception of Yin/Yang dynamics as unity.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/11/1392MiddleDaoist Wayaleatory pointChaosYin and YangDaoist de (power)
spellingShingle Chungmin Maria Tu
Reversal Is the Movement of the Way: The Deleuzian Reconceptualization of Daoist Paradox
Religions
Middle
Daoist Way
aleatory point
Chaos
Yin and Yang
Daoist de (power)
title Reversal Is the Movement of the Way: The Deleuzian Reconceptualization of Daoist Paradox
title_full Reversal Is the Movement of the Way: The Deleuzian Reconceptualization of Daoist Paradox
title_fullStr Reversal Is the Movement of the Way: The Deleuzian Reconceptualization of Daoist Paradox
title_full_unstemmed Reversal Is the Movement of the Way: The Deleuzian Reconceptualization of Daoist Paradox
title_short Reversal Is the Movement of the Way: The Deleuzian Reconceptualization of Daoist Paradox
title_sort reversal is the movement of the way the deleuzian reconceptualization of daoist paradox
topic Middle
Daoist Way
aleatory point
Chaos
Yin and Yang
Daoist de (power)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/11/1392
work_keys_str_mv AT chungminmariatu reversalisthemovementofthewaythedeleuzianreconceptualizationofdaoistparadox