Wandering The Mind At The Beginning Of Things: Zhuangzi’s True Knowledge

"True knowledge" is one of the core issues of Zhuangzi’s philosophy,which is closely related to other themes of Zhuangzi,such as "Theory of Tao" and "Theory of cultivation".At the same time,in the western academic circle,Zhuangzi’s "true knowledge" is an epistemological issue that attracts much attention.In the perspective of comparison between China and the West,it can provide a dimension for us to reveal the differences and similarities between the eastern and western ways of understanding.From the opinions conveyed to us by Zhuangzi,"true knowledge" is a way of life of " true person ".Compared with the Logicians of his time and the Mohists,Zhuangzi’s "true knowledge" has distinct characteristics and takes "true person" as the prerequisite.This reminds us that "true knowledge" is not a kind of ideal knowledge,as the Logicians pursue.On the contrary,it criticizes the pathological obsession with "knowledge" and points to the human condition.In the real life " the wandering of the Truth-Picker.",His knowledge was able to climb all the way up to the Way,and this "true knowledge" opens up a world of supreme beauty and happiness.The true person " Wander freely" in this world in the way of "yin-shih" and "clarity".It is generally accepted by scholars that Zhuangzi’s " true person " travel in the way of "true knowledge",but when it comes to the specific explanation,it points to the obvious opposite way.One interpretation of "true knowledge" holds that the "true knowledge" of true person is a "return" to the " True Nature ".Another interpretation holds that Zhuangzi criticizes such a view of returning to the "true nature of man",because it shares the same form with Mencius’ "Theory of the Goodness of Nature",which is more of a "Confucian" interpretation of Zhuangzi.Thus,they argued that Zhuangzi’s "true knowledge" was an insight into the eternal flow of the Tao,and that Zhuangzi suggested that one should fully conform to this flow.This paper will show that Zhuang Zi criticizes this view,which is different from the interpretation of "true knowledge",which is "return" to "the true nature of man".At the same time,this paper also refutes the latter view that people should be completely consistent with the evolution,because it essentially leads to the ethical conclusion of complete relativism,and it completely ignores Zhuangzi’s absolute description of the "true knowledge" and "virtue" of true person Zhuangzi does have some claims in the aspect of ethical value.In order to demonstrate the above author’s opinion,this paper divides "knowledge" and "true knowledge" two areas.In the field of "knowledge",Zhuang Zi is advocated to use logical tools to criticize "knowledge" and "thing theory" and the value system of "right and wrong".In the field of "true knowledge",It is argued that Zhuangzi was responding to the challenge that it would not be self-contradictory for him to criticise ’knowledge’ and yet construct or claim a ’knowledge’ of his own.He made creative use of "entrusted words","respected words" and "goblet words" to get his message across.