Human Nature's Self-Revealing: A Rapport between Heideggerian physis and techne, and Classical Chinese Philosophy

Abstract

This paper aims to establish a rapport between Heideggerian and
Classical Chinese philosophy by comparing Heidegger’s notion of physis
and techne, as gleaned from »The Question Concerning Technology,« with
the understanding of human nature according to the Daoist philosophers
and the Confucian thinker Mencius. Specifically, I will show that the Daoist
idea of ziran or a thing being »so-of-itself,« is similar to Heidegger’s understanding of physis as the bringing-forth of a thing in itself. Likewise, I will
attempt to show how Mencius’ conception of the complementariness between human nature and Confucian praxis resonates with Heidegger’s understanding of techne as a way of revealing that is in harmony with beings.
Through this, I hope to contribute to the on-going dialogue between Heidegger and Eastern thought