Moeller, HansGeorg

Genuine Pretending

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ISBN 13:: 9780231183994
author:: Moeller, HansGeorg
format:: Paperback
publisher:: Columbia University Press
language:: English
Publication Year:: 2017
Pages:: 240
Dimensions:: 22.61 x 15.24 x 1.52 centimetres
Genre:: Religion, Taoism, Nonfiction,
Condition:: New
Availability:: Item usually sent within 10 working days

£26.96

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Description

Description

Genuine Pretending offers a fresh and provocative reading of the Zhuangzi, a Daoist classic that challenges traditional philosophical interpretations. By highlighting the critical functions of satire and humor, Hans-Georg Moeller and Paul J. D'Ambrosio show how this text subverts dominant Confucianism through allegories and ironical reflections.

The Zhuangzi is often seen as a call for authenticity, but Moeller and D'Ambrosio argue that it actually distances itself from this pursuit, instead parodying venerated representations of wisdom and deconstructing the notion of sagehood. This paradoxical approach, which they term "genuine pretending," suggests a playful engagement with socially mandated duties and obligations.

This innovative reading of the Zhuangzi has implications for our understanding of existential sanity in an age of mass media's quest for originality. By exploring the value of a Daoist outlook, Genuine Pretending offers a unique perspective on how to navigate the complexities of modern life.

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