A New Interpretation of Lao Zi's Thought of Wu Shen
Lao Zi's thought of Wu Shen(无身)is actually the earliest Taoist idea of"no self",which establishes the initial theoretical purpose of cultivating political character of selflessness.However,in the interpretational history of Tao Te Ching,different views on how to understand Lao Zi's thought of Wu Shen has always been obscuring its exact theoretical purpose and failed to exert its due theoretical effect by reaching a universal consensus.On the basis of analyzing different views on the interpretation of Lao Zi's thought of Wu Shen and clarifying its exact meaning,this paper will respond to some scholars'criticism on this thought of Lao Zi.It will be also clarified that it may be one-sided to define this thought as sacrificing oneself for others or selfless altruism.From a more comprehensive point of view,Lao Zi actually adopted a utilitarianist argumentational strategy which aims at proving that selfless actions can achieve selfish goals,so as to exhort rulers to selflessly practice the spirit of"no self of dedicating oneself to serve the people"and in this way obtain the consequences they value most.Therefore,a more appropriate theoretical characterization of Lao Zi's thought of Wu Shen is the view of selflessness with private interests.
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