Radical alterity in theZhuangzi: On the political and philosophical function of monsters

Abstract

AbstractAn extraordinary horde of aberrant, deformed, and grotesque beings inhabits the writings collected in theZhuangzi.Crippled, malformed, hideous, foolish, eccentric, and even outlawed individuals conquer the central place of philosophical narration, traditionally proscribed for them, and create one of the most important and intriguing voices echoing through the text. Yet, for all their undeniably significant presence, scholars of ancient Chinese philosophy have paid surprisingly little attention to the topic of monsters. Structured into three sections and adopting a critical, strictly philosophical standpoint, this paper aims to draw attention to the crucial role played by monsters in theZhuangzi.The first section underlines the essential characteristics of these monsters and, most particularly, their disruptive dimension together with the challenge they pose to philosophical thinking. The second section offers a detailed review of the recent bibliography on theZhuangziwith regard to analysis of these aberrant figures. Finally, based on contributions in the work of Jacques Rancière, the third section highlights the political scope embodied by the monstrous beings of theZhuangzi.