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Kai Marchal was 22 when he travelled to China on the Trans-Siberian Railway, with a longing for alternative ways of thinking in his luggage. He is now a professor of philosophy in Taipei. Barbara Bleisch talks to him about the art of not thinking and the wisdom of the Dao. Our image of China is shaped by rapid change: the population is moving into the cities, consumption is growing exponentially, the environment is suffering. But China is also a place of longing that practices turning away from everything and instructs us to surrender to the Dao, the mysterious principle of all becoming and passing away. How do these images fit together? And can we rational Westerners even understand Chinese thinking? Did the Daoists and Confucians pursue a philosophical project that can help us lead a successful life? Or is their teaching more of a religion? Kai Marchal has written an amusing and profound book about his life in China, which also provides an introduction to Chinese thinking. Barbara Bleisch meets him for a conversation. Literature: Kai Marchal: "Step through the wall and become who you (are not). On the trail of Chinese thought". Matthes and Seitz, 2019 Sternstunde Philosophie from April 28, 2019 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More culture on YouTube ???? https://www.youtube.com/srfkultur?sub... More culture on Facebook ???? / srfkultur More culture on Twitter ???? / srfkultur More culture on srf.ch ???? https://www.srf.ch/kultur ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The "Sternstunde Philosophie" cultivates the in-depth and critical exchange of ideas and gets to the bottom of the burning questions of our time. The "Sternstunde Philosophie" draws a broad arc from socio-political topicality to the fundamental questions of philosophy: Who is responsible for what, what does human freedom consist of, what determines the meaning of our lives? Guests include personalities from science, culture, politics and business - voices that stimulate thought and reflect on and classify our current events. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Social Media Netiquette from SRF: ► https://www.srf.ch/social-netiquette #SRFCulture #SRFSternstunde #Philosophy #SRF