Ziran in Early Daoist Thinking

This book offers a different understanding of nature by investigating the concept of ziran 自然 in the early Daoist texts that lay a metaphysical foundation for Daoism, Daoist environmentalism, and ecofeminism.

Revealing the Daoist ziran as a peaceful and harmonious way of living and its inspiration of profound wisdom for mankind, who are now deep in the modern crisis, the book examines the concept of ziran in early Daoist texts from a comparative perspective. It elaborates the meaning of Daoist ziran from the dimensions of dao, things, and humans, covering important philosophical topics such as being and nonbeing, the spontaneity or nature of things and freedom. Drawing on extensive resources—from pre-Socratic philosophers, Plato, Kant, Heidegger to environmentalism, feminism and Daoism—it explores Daoist ziran and promotes comparative philosophy at both theoretical and practical levels.

As an original analysis of the relationship between humans and nature, this book will be a valuable resource for international scholars and researchers in Daoism, Asian philosophy, comparative philosophy, environmentalism, ecofeminism and for those interested in the concept of nature.