Summary of the Key Points
This article explores the evolution of human connection abilities, drawing on Zhuangzi’s concept that “when the ‘way’ (Dao) is lost, love emerges” as a compensation. In primitive tribes, people could connect deeply with nature and each other without the need for language to understand their needs. As society became more complex and conflicts over right and wrong arose, this ability gradually diminished, leading to the use of abstract concepts like “love” to fill the gap. However, these concepts often turned into fixed “standard answers” that could lead to self-indulgent or rigid behavior. In the era of AI, Silicon Valley giants use grand narratives such as “loving humanity” and “the meaning of the universe” to distract from real issues (like unemployment), essentially further cutting off our ability to connect with reality. The article calls on us to return to everyday life and re-establish a genuine connection with the world and others.
Detailed Analysis
Zhuangzi’s Concept of “When the Dao is Lost, Love Emerges”
Zhuangzi’s idea is simple: humans were originally in a state of seamless connection with the world and each other, but when this connection was broken, the concept of “love” was invented to bridge the gap. For example, primitive tribes did not use the word “love”; however, they would naturally offer food to their hungry companions. Later, Confucianism emphasized “benevolent love” (more for family and less for strangers), while Mohism advocated universal love, turning love into a concept with prescribed ways of expression. This kind of love often led to self-indulgence—such as forcing children to attend tutoring classes without understanding their true needs, which Zhuangzi called “using the name of love to impose changes,” essentially a form of “false love” that robbed us of our ability to connect.
The “Superpowers” of Primitive Tribes
Anthropologists have discovered that primitive tribes possessed a remarkable ability to communicate without words:
- Connection with nature: Inuit hunters would blend into their environment while tracking reindeer, sensing wind direction, ice vibrations, and the deer’s movements to predict its next move.
- Connection with others: Australian indigenous people would pass objects to their companions without being asked; the Zia帕奇 tribe would remain silent upon reuniting, believing that feeling each other’s presence was more important than speaking.
- No loneliness or depression: Tribes lived together, shared breath and heartbeat; the death of one member brought sorrow to the whole community, so concepts like “loneliness” were virtually unknown, as were mental health issues.
How Love Became a Standard Answer
The word “love” itself did not exist in ancient times (it first appeared in Zhou dynasty inscriptions, meaning “to cherish”). As society developed, conflicts over right and wrong emerged:
- Confucianism defined love as hierarchical (first for family, then for others);
- Mohism advocated universal love.
- These definitions of love gradually became rigid standards—such as the story of Guo Ju burying his son in the “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars,” turning filial piety into a ritual that required sacrifice, losing its original warmth.
- Today, online articles teach us how to love ourselves and others, but they only increase anxiety, as these are abstract methods rather than genuine connections.
The Grand Narratives of the AI Era
Silicon Valley leaders claim that developing AI is about “loving humanity,” yet they acknowledge the issue of unemployment. Unable to explain why people could be happy despite losing their jobs, they resort to grand narratives:
- Turing Award winner Sarton claimed that the universe has four stages, and humanity’s purpose is to create AI for cosmic evolution, urging us to accept this without emotional connection.
- This is similar to Japan’s wartime rhetoric of “mutual prosperity,” using grand words to distract from reality.
What Can We Do?
Zhuangzi does not suggest returning to primitive times; instead, he warns us against being misled by abstract concepts:
- Return to everyday life: Put down your phone while eating with family and listen attentively;
- Connect with nature: Touch the texture of leaves, smell the soil after rain, and reconnect with the environment.
- Reject standard answers: Instead of learning how to love, learn to feel—for example, hold a crying child instead of telling them not to cry.
These simple actions can reawaken our innate ability to connect, which is the true essence of life in the AI era.
(The entire article uses clear language and avoids technical jargon, making Zhuangzi’s ideas accessible and relevant to today’s issues.)