Navigating Existential Realms: A Comparative Analysis of Borges and Zhuangzi’s Philosophy
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Abstract
This paper offers a comparative philosophical analysis of Jorge Luis Borges’s The Garden of Forking Paths and Zhuangzi’s Butterfly Dream, arguing that both texts extend Heidegger’s concept of authenticity. It introduces ontological authenticity in Borges’s work where authenticity involves an active engagement with one’s existential conditions despite the ontical multiplicity made available by the cosmos. Similarly, it examines Zhuangzi’s structure of presence, a term coined by Hans-Georg Moeller, advocating for experiencing existence directly and without the intermediary of fixed identities.
This analysis challenges traditional views on time, self, and death, proposing concepts raised by both texts: time is not fixed, but interferes with subjective perception; individuality as such is not real but illusory; and death should be treated equally with life because differentiation between life and death is unreal. Ultimately, this paper seeks to enrich cross-cultural dialogue and expands contemporary discussions on authenticity by delving into the philosophical depth of Borges’s and Zhuangzi’s texts, which are often overlooked for not falling into mainstream Western discourse.
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non–Commercial No Derivatives License which permits noncommercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of the Publisher must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
