What is Laozi's Ziran (naturalness): from Ancient text to Modern Implication

Professor Xiaogan Liu of the City University of Hong Kong present a new interpretation on "Naturalness" based on close textual analysis of Laozi.

Xiaogan Liu, Professor, Philosophy, City University of Hong Kong

It is a well-settled that Ziran, (Tzu-jan, or Naturalness as its token in English) is an essential concept in the Laozi or Daoism.  However, the meaning of Laozi’s ziran is less clear.  Does it refer to the natural world?  Or does it characterize the biological world?  Is it a description of biophysical nature?  Or the Primitivist state?  Perhaps it is Thomas Hobbe's“state of nature”?  Or is it opposed to human civilization?  Or is it useful for improving human social life?  Could we accept all of these ideas as an equally “creative” understanding or interpretation of Laozi’s ziran?  This lecture tries to present a new interpretation based on close textual analyses of the Laozi, including comparison of the received versions and recently excavated bamboo and silk versions of the text.  In addition to textual and historical approaches, the lecture will also discuss its possible implication and application of the concept of Laozi’s ziran in modern society, a world full of value conflicts.