qi-and-dao

The chapter examines the concept of technological rupture in China as a disruption of the metaphysical unity between theory and practice, emphasizing the need to revisit indigenous philosophical categories Qi and Dao to reconstruct this unity. It addresses the challenge posed by Western technological paradigms and explores Mou Zongsan's proposal to reunify noumenal and phenomenal ontologies, thereby enabling a revival of traditional Chinese thought that can support modern science and technology. This approach underpins the New Confucianism movement's effort to develop a new method grounded in Chinese tradition to engage with technological globalization.

The chapter explores the inseparable Daoist concepts of Qi and Dao, emphasizing a holistic Chinese technical thought where mastery arises from aligning with the natural Dao rather than mere skill or tools, as illustrated by Pao Ding's knife. It contrasts this with the Daoist critique of machines disrupting spiritual simplicity and freedom, juxtaposed with Platonic ideas about understanding the natural joints of things and the limits of written knowledge. The chapter highlights the importance of wu wei and freeing technics from functional determination to realize their full potential in harmony with the Dao.