UC Irvine

This dissertation studies how German-Austrian author Robert Musil (1880-1942) and Chinese author Zhang Taiyan (1869-1936) pursue the same project: reconciling the tension between a plural phenomenal world and an inconceivable in their respective texts Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften (The Man without Qualities) and “Qiwulunshi” (齊物論釋, An Interpretation of ‘Equalizing Assessments of Things’). To conduct this comparative research, the dissertation develops the method which sees the same project both authors pursue as the common basis for comparison. The result of this comparison can be summarized in four similarities and two major differences. The dissertation finds out that both Musil’s and Zhang’s texts negate a single universal discourse dominating the phenomenal world. Instead, they believe that this realm should embrace a plurality of perspectives. Both texts also aspire for a metaphysical realm which unites the plurality in the phenomenal realm. However, given that the metaphysical realm is nothingness, and it precedes human consciousness, the unity remains an inconceivable realm. The plural phenomenal world and the united metaphysical world seem to be incompatible to each other. Facing this problem, both texts attempt to reconcile the tension by seeking a synthesized representation which includes both the plural phenomenal world and the unified metaphysical world. However, there are two major differences which can be perceived in both texts. Whereas Musil’s text puts its focus on the human world and believe in human potentials, Zhang’s text is not only confined within this human realm, and he acknowledges the insurmountable limitation of human powers. Building on confidence in human capacity, Musil’s text constantly explores different forms of human interactions. Therefore, the novel becomes the optimal genre for Musil to extend his endless explorations in the human. In contrast, Zhang sees the limitation of humans and he therefore negates human’s chances to approach the metaphysical realm. As a result, Zhang sole explorations in the human world cannot bring him further. Zhang thus does not need to further explore human potentials in a novel, but rather lays out his logical analysis in an argumentative form. The dissertation follows the MLA style.