Brook Ziporyn's "The Penumbra Unbound" presents Guo Xiang's Neo-Taoist philosophy as a radical theory of freedom, where the Tao is reinterpreted not as a metaphysical absolute, but as literal "nothing." This absence of external justification is the foundation for Guo's concept of "self-so" phenomenal things, which create and transform themselves independently of any pre-existing order. The book examines the coherence and significance of Guo's ideas, tracing their impact on later Chinese philosophy, particularly Chan Buddhism, and contrasting his notions of freedom with Western philosophical positions.
The study reveals how Guo Xiang's thought, as a commentary on the *Zhuangzi*, develops a philosophy of freedom and spontaneity. Readers will learn how Guo's absence of metaphysical underpinnings for appearances leads to a dynamic understanding of reality as self-creating and self-transforming. The book also situates Guo Xiang's philosophical arguments on freedom versus determinism within a broader intellectual history, engaging with key Western thinkers.
Key concepts
- Tao as "nothing" — Guo Xiang's reinterpretation of the Tao not as a metaphysical absolute, but as literal absence beyond appearances.
- "Self-so" — The concept that phenomenal things create and transform themselves without external justification or dependence.
- Radical freedom — A theory of liberty derived from the absence of any metaphysical grounding for existence, where things are inherently self-determining.
- Neo-Taoist philosophy — Guo Xiang's philosophical system as a development and reinterpretation of classical Taoist thought.