I begin by arguing that there are two different conceptions of dao in pre-Qin philosophy. The more general conception can be defined as “a nonempty changing unsummed totality,” while the other is defined as “the invariant governing all instances of change.” I then argue for the exegetical point that the Daodejing adopts both the conception of dao as the nonempty changing unsummed totality of myriad things and as the nomic-invariant of weakening reversion. Dao as the nomic-invariant of weakening reversion characterizes and can be identified with dao as the nonempty changing unsummed totality of myriad things. The main thesis I advance in this presentation is that the Zhuangzi holds that dao is the nonempty transforming unsummed totality of myriad things but does not think there are any invariants in the grand process of transformation of the myriad things. Additionally, I use the findings of this investigation to offer a plausible interpretation of a difficult passage in the Zhuangzi.

Speaker 
Prof. Cheung Kam-ching
Emeritus Professor, Department of Philosophy, CUHK