Daoism A Contemporary Philosophical Investigation

Daoism: A Contemporary Philosophical Investigation explores philosophy of religion from a Daoist perspective. Philosophy of religion is a thriving field today, increasingly expanding from its traditional theistic, Christian roots into more cosmologically oriented Asian religions. This book raises a number of different issues on the three levels of cosmos, individual, and society, and addresses key questions like: What are the distinctive characteristics of Daoist thought and cosmology? How does it approach problems of creation, body, mind, and society? What, ultimately, is Dao? How does it manifest and play a role in the world? What are the key features of Daoist communities and ethics? What role does the body play in Daoism? What do Daoists think is the relationship between language and reality? What is Daoist immortality? How do Daoists envision the perfect life on earth? The volume delves into philosophical subject matter in a way that is accessible to those approaching the topic for this first time, while also making an original contribution to Daoist philosophy of religion. This volume is suitable for use by undergraduate and graduate students studying Chinese religion and philosophy, as well as more general introductory courses on Daoism.

Introduction: The Nature of Daoism Part One: Reality 1 Ultimate Reality 2 The World 3 Heavens and Hells Part Two: Humanity 4 The Body 5 Mind, Thoughts, and Emotions 6 The Human Condition Part Three: Community 7 Forms of Community 8 Women and the Family 9 Leadership Part Four: Ethics 10 Daoist Ethics 11 The Nature of Evil 12 Religious Precepts 13 Karmic Consequences Part Five: Perfection 14 Selfhood and Spontaneity 15 The Perfect Human 16 Immortality Conclusion: Contemporary Connections

Livia Kohn is Professor Emerita, Department of Religion, Boston University, USA. Her recent publications include Guides to Sacred Texts: The Daode jing (2019) and Daoist China: Governance, Economy, Culture (2018).