“I” as Relating: The Self-Undoing of Metaphysical Foundations

This paper challenges a persistent assumption in mainstream philosophy: that the self must be conceived as a substantial entity or an ultimate metaphysical ground. To move beyond this impasse, it constructs a new model through a rigorous synthesis of three seminal Chinese concepts: Confucian relational actuality (you), Daoist generative negativity (Wu), and Buddhist empty openness (Kong). From this synthesis emerges a central thesis: the “I” is most fundamentally not a being but the active process of relating itself (“I” as Relating). This redefinition triggers a metaphysical self-undoing, dissolving the quest for a foundational subject. The argument culminates not in abstraction, but in a decisive turn to immediate present-moment awareness—the very site where this non-substantial self enacts its freedom. The essay’s radical 300-word classical form performs its philosophy, embodying the disciplined, present-focused cognition it advocates. （These articles are just records of places I’ve passed by. Don’t take them too seriously, my friend — they may be full of mistakes. Trust yourself. If you want to find my recent location, please check the pinned post or updates on my homepage.）