Research on Laozi's Metaphysical Thought

Author: Ma Delin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: The philosophy of the Laozi has always been a timeless and enduring topic. In the past three decades, with the discovery of a large number of lost texts, particularly the Laozi manuscripts from the Mawangdui and Guodian Chu burial pits, the traditional interpretive frameworks have been broken, promoting in-depth research on the Laozi's philosophy. At the turn of the century, not only were numerous papers published, but several influential and substantial research monographs were also released, marking significant achievements. However, reviewing these research outcomes, most still focus on textual, the interpretation of phrases, or related literature studies. Even when discussing the philosophical meaning, the majority still interpret it from traditional categorical perspectives—its philosophy, politics, ethics, military thought, or dialectics. Specialized discussions on the metaphysical thought of the Laozi are nearly non-existent. Yet, when it comes to the Laozi and the metaphysical issues of ancient Chinese philosophy, they are inescapable for anyone who wishes to examine and study Chinese philosophy from a purely philosophical perspective. Therefore, how to approach and research the metaphysics of the Laozi, and subsequently the metaphysics of Daoism, and even the metaphysics of ancient China, and further its relationship with Western metaphysics, should be a topic of great academic value and practical significance.