| Abstract |
The classical Chinese tradition of Daoism has been a projection screen for recent debates in environmentalism. Daoist-inspired notions of cosmic harmony serve as the imagined antidote to what is perceived as Western modernity’s tendency to exploit and destroy the natural habitat. This chapter critically demonstrates that the recent interpretation of Daoist motifs as part of a Eurodaoist revival continues a trend of turning to Eastern wisdom to address specifically modern challenges dating back to at least the sixteenth century. It argues that there is a need to work critically through simplistic adaptations of classical Chinese traditions and challenge the explanation of global environmental crises in terms of allegedly “Western” values. A self-reflective, transcultural approach to confronting the environmental crisis is nevertheless a promising starting point. © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Hiroshi Abe, Matthias Fritsch, and Mario Wenning. |
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