Constructing the Daoistic Theory of Toleration from Zhuangzi

Abstract

Toleration presupposes denial towards a object of toleration. However, toleration is not limited to a mere act of denial. Toleration, while maintaining the act of denial, adds an additional denial of any form of realization of the initial act of denial towards the object of toleration. The peculiarity of the act of toleration lies in the simultaneous practice of these two forms of denials. In other words, the the first form of denial, in the sense that you cannot accept the behavior or ideology of the object of toleration as your own, and the second form of denial, the denial toward the realization of the initial denial, compose the act of toleration. The purpose of this study is to trace the denials of these two forms, which the author argues as an element representing the specificity of toleration, in Zhuangzi's work 『莊子』. To this end, the author examines four stories in 『莊子』 as examples. Through this, the author concludes that in 『莊子』, there are ample evidences showing the Daiosm in 『莊子』 should be regarded as a philosophical system qualifying itself as a tolerant. In addition, the author suggests to use the method of tracking the presence of specific elements of toleration within a specific theoretical system as a primary means of identifying whether a specific theory is tolerant.