Reading Group: The Daodejing (道德經) with Robin R. Wang
The Daodejing (4th–3rd century BCE) is one of the foundational texts of Daoist philosophy. Composed in poetic, aphoristic form, it has exercised a far-reaching and often ambivalent influence on Chinese as well as European intellectual traditions.
Early German reception played a significant role in shaping European encounters with Daoist thought. Philosophers, poets, and scholars frequently read the Daodejing as an alternative to dominant frameworks of rationalism, industrial modernity, and systematic metaphysics. In the twentieth century, thinkers such as Martin Heidegger engaged with Daoist ideas, while the text also influenced literature, psychology, and countercultural movements in German-speaking contexts. Its themes of simplicity, non-coercion, and attunement to natural processes were later taken up in ecological and anti-technocratic discourse.
At the same time, this reception history is complex. European readings often projected their own philosophical and cultural concerns onto the text, selectively interpreting it through Romantic, existentialist, or spiritual lenses. Studying the Daodejing today therefore also involves reflecting critically on how meaning shifts as texts travel across languages, cultures, and historical contexts.
Purpose of the Reading Group
This reading group offers a space for slow, collaborative engagement with the Daodejing. Rather than working toward a single “correct” interpretation, it encourages open reflection on how the text can be read philosophically, practically, and personally. Participants are welcome regardless of prior experience with Daoist philosophy.
Format
Each session begins with a short introduction to selected passages and key philosophical themes. The text is approached not as a fixed doctrine, but as an open conversation that invites multiple interpretations. Participants will then read and discuss passages together, with attention to both language and translation. The second half of each meeting is devoted to open discussion, questions, and reflections, including possible connections to contemporary philosophical and everyday concerns.
Practical Information
The group consists of four sessions in June and July, focusing on close reading and shared discussion of key themes in the Daodejing. No prior background is required. Sessions will take place in the seminar room (2nd floor) at the International Centre for Philosophy and Science.
The final structure and pacing of sessions may be adjusted depending on group interests and discussion dynamics.
