Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 7, 2025

On the Dao-Wu Relationship: Jin Yuelin’s Inheritance and Innovation in Daoist Philosophy

(Abstract)

Chen Xia

Jin Yuelin’s philosophical thought was deeply influenced by a wide range of intellectual traditions, including Chinese and Western philosophy, logic, mathematics and the natural sciences. Among these, traditional Daoist philosophy played a particularly important role in shaping his thought and therefore warrants further scholarly attention. The concepts of Dao and wu (things) are central to Daoist philosophy and were key elements in Jin’s theoretical exploration. Departing from two millennia of interpretative tradition, Jin’s Theory of Dao directly adopts, adapts, and transforms several core Daoist concepts—including Dao and wu—and redefines them with rigorous clarity through the lens of modern logic. Employing a logical expository style, Jin deduces the philosophical system of the Dao-wu relationship through a series of a priori and transcendental propositions, thus achieving a breakthrough in traditional Daoist philosophy. By grounding his system in precise logical reasoning and argumentative analysis, and by synthesizing Chinese and Western philosophical insights along with modern scientific achievements, Jin Yuelin provides an important foundation for developing an independent philosophical knowledge system in China.