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Review Zhuangzi Indexicals

This review explores the concepts of indexicals in Zhuangzi's philosophy and Nietzsche's critique of rationalism. It discusses the relativity of terms, the rejection of absolute viewpoints, and the importance of tolerance and flexibility. It also analyzes Nietzsche's attack on the metaphysical basis of morality and his skepticism towards scientific reality.

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Review Zhuangzi Indexicals

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  1. Review Zhuangzi Indexicals • Terms whose reference changes • Refer but not fixed—always from here/now • Relational—relative: many answers • Not none, or one mystical, or can’t say anything • Rejects “all is one” – anti-language contradiction • Pointing to the one—makes two • Dao Axis is infinite possibility • But no actual position • The view from nowhere • Needs careful statement • Or run into anti-language position

  2. Judgments • Do make them—accept this • But always aware that could be different • From different “position” • No view from cosmos (nowhere) • But can gain from others—broadening • Maybe will work—maybe won’t • Handan walk • Absolute point of view useless • No argument for quietism/stoicism • No argument for absolute toleration • Mao and Gandhi are different from actual POV

  3. So what advice? • Strong skepticism doesn't entail anything • This is mild skepticism • No argument against your perspective • Just awareness that there are alternatives • Tolerance, openness, and don’t kill b/c different • Three bits of advice • Flexibility and youth • Accept convention as useful (no more) • Skill transcendence (satisfaction in excelling) • Cook/butcher Ting • Slight inconsistency: life limited • Skill and Defect

  4. Question Quiz and back to the West

  5. Back to the West: Nietzsche • Long wait for an antithesis: Nietzsche anti-rationalism • Life • Born 1844 Lutheran father • Dependence on women. Anger!

  6. Existentialism and Nietzsche • Existence over essence (formula) • Plato’s forms  essence • Opposes reason (rationalism) • God, abstractions, reality, meaning and value

  7. Two Theses Under Attack • Rational metaphysics and Christianity • Metaphysical basis of morality • Plato & God • Christianity as blend of Greek rationalism and Judaism • Science as their offspring • Reason & science • Investigating the “mind of god”

  8. Science Attacks Its Parents (Oedipus?) • God—the rational structure of the universe • Thesis that gave science birth but • Scientific reality has no affinity with our rational souls • Cannot be known • Changing, dead, and valueless • No reality basis for meaning/value in life

  9. God Holds It Together • Constant threat from science • Western conflict of science and religion • Dim awareness that it is a myth • God is dead—the madman in the marketplace • We can no longer fool ourselves with the myth • Nothing binds reality to value

  10. Descartes • "Father of modern philosophy" • Rationalize science Make it compatible with religion-rationalism • Classic detail of Nietzsche's target • Science undermines his beliefs • Copernican revolution, evolution, dead matter, light waves • Can we really know anything? • The evil demon‑‑brain in a vat fantasy • From new theory of vision

  11. Cartesian "Radical" Skepticism • Doubt everything—not from specific arguments, but general ones • Main target: objects and other minds • Strategy: prove something immune to evil demon doubt • I think, therefore I exist • Even if I doubt, can't doubt that I'm thinking

  12. Is Cogito Valid? • Back to Parmenides • If a sentence is true then its subject term must denote something • Any true sentence of the form "X Q's" entails "X exists" • So, if the premise (I think) is true then it follows as a matter of form that I exist • "Santa Claus thinks" is false • Thought doesn't matter here • "Santa clause walks" is also false

  13. Is Cogito Sound? • Is the premise true? • Certainly! Whenever I think it • Can we know it is true? Yes • It is true • We believe it is true • (When we think, we think we are thinking) • We have good reason to believe it • We are good judges of our own conscious states

  14. Paradox Analysis • To think you do not think is a paradox • Different from semantic (liar) or prescriptive (Shendao) paradoxes • The meaning inconsistent with truth • Conforming inconsistent with meaning • Pragmatic (action) paradox • What you say is inconsistent with the act of your saying it • "I cannot speak one word of English" • The speech act of asserting is inconsistent with its truth 我不會 I cannot think 用中文 In English. 想。

  15. Thinking Thoughts and Thinker • Next step cannot reach outside thought • A way to get all rational truths back—prove God exists • So ontological argument for God • Unique in following from definition alone

  16. Ontological Argument • St. Anselm model—easier and more famous • Definition of the ‘god' concept: • The perfect being • Start with that thought of god—a concept • Can be thought of by a non-believer • The non-believer contradicts himself in thinking: • “God does not exist” • Not derived just from thinking • From the content (meaning/definition) of the thought

  17. Existence • Perfect=df has all positive qualities completely • Qualities = predicates • 'Exists' is a predicate • ‘Exists’ is positive (better than 無) • Not to predicate 'exists' of the being that has all positive qualities completely is a contradiction

  18. So I am not deceived when I think clearly and distinctly

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