Gilbert: Freshman Studies: Fall 99: Chuang Tzu. Basic Writings

Gilbert: Freshman Studies: Fall 99:
Chuang Tzu. Basic Writings

For Wednesday, read pp. 23-88 (sections 1-6), paying particular attention to Section 2, "Discussion on Making All Things Equal," and very particular attention to "the butterfly dream" on page 45.

First off, a little about the character of the Basic Writings. We're dealing with a loose collection of stories, dialogues, and aphorisms arranged into sections. As you're reading, it might help to mark in the text where you think these stories begin and end. Think also about why a particular story is in a particular section.

We'll focus on the Butterfly Dream (p. 45), one of the most famous passages in ancient Chinese literature. As you're reading and thinking:

First, consider this story without the last two sentences.

How do we usually think about dreaming and non-dreaming/not-dreaming?

Some scholars think of the Butterfly Dream as a story about epistemology: the study of how things are known -- and whether or not anything can be known. What is the point of this story as an epistemological riddle?

Now consider the last two sentences. What does the addition of these sentences do to the story? Make it clearer? more confusing?

What does the butterfly dream have to do with "making all things equal"?

Take another look at the paragraph that starts on the bottom of page 34, beginning, "Everything has its 'that'...". How does the butterfly dream connect with "this" and "that"?

Assignment:
Before 5pm Tuesday, post to the newsgroup comments and/or questions you have about the "underlying theme" of section two. Why are these stories grouped together under the heading "Discussion on Making All Things Equal"?

Take a look at the paper assignment before Thanksgiving break. Ask any questions now; with the lecture on Monday, we won't have class again until the 1st -- and the paper's due on the 2nd.

revised: 22-Nov-1999