The Half-full and half-empty glass of water : the theme of joy in existentialism and classical Daoism

The article investigates the theme of joy in the philosophical traditions of Daoism and existentialism. The main purpose of the article is to highlight the existential significance and conceptual variety of joy, a hitherto ignored theme in the comparative studies. The comparative conceptual analysis reveals the differences and the meeting points of several concepts of joy in existentialism and Daoism, the Zhuangzi in particular. After surveying the rather emotional side of joy based on oppositional evaluation, the exploration of the theme goes on to the notion of joy as an essential existential mood. The article concludes with an analysis of the idea of an empty joyful serenityFilosofijos katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta