How Dao and De Can Shape a Plausible Zhuangist Ethics

Abstract

<div><div><div><p><span>I argue for two main contentions. </span><br></p><p><span>(1) As presented in the texts themselves, the core conception of the well-lived life in the thread of Zhuangist thought I addressed in earlier work is indeed relatively narrow, and for good reasons, because this narrow conception prevents the flourishing life from being subject to chance. A broader conception of the good life may complement this core conception but cannot replace it. </span></p><p><span>(2) Far from failing to provide grounds for avoiding harm to others, my account of Zhuangist ethics in terms of </span><em>dao </em><span>and </span><em>de </em><span>actually explains why the texts disapprove of harm and why they show consideration for others. </span></p></div></div></div>