EXPLORING SPIRITUAL AND EXISTENTIAL THEMES IN THE WORKS OF VIRGINIA WOOLF AND LAOZI: A COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of "modern fiction" as articulated by Virginia Woolf in her essay "Modern Fiction" and juxtaposes it with the philosophical insights of Laozi, thus creating a dialogue between Western modernist literature and Eastern philosophical thought. The study begins by constructing a definition of "modern fiction" that encapsulates themes of historical consciousness, the fluidity of psychological experiences, and the subjective perception of reality. These themes resonate with the spiritual and existential questions addressed in both Woolf's literary works and Laozi's Daoist teachings. The central focus of this comparative analysis is the categories of modern fiction that govern its essence and existence. These categories, including introspection, impression, memory, feeling, significant moments, psychological time, and the flow of consciousness, serve as the gravitational centre for both Woolf's and Laozi's interpretations of modernity. This paper examines how these elements reflect the open-ended nature of human experience and the discontinuities of historical progression, thus engaging with the broader philosophical questions about the nature of self, the other, and the cosmos. Woolf’s depiction of the fluidity of human consciousness and Laozi’s emphasis on harmony and balance in life intersect at various points, offering insights into the openness and finiteness of modern fiction. This study highlights how both thinkers advocate for literature that transcends traditional boundaries and mirrors human existence's complex, multifaceted nature. This analysis suggests that Woolf's and Laozi’s approaches to literary criticism and philosophical thought do not prescribe a fixed method for categorizing fiction. Instead, their ideas champion a literary and existential openness model that resonates with contemporary societal and philosophical challenges. The paper argues that their works' existential and spiritual dimensions provide a rich framework for understanding the interplay between individual consciousness and universal truths, thus contributing significantly to the discourse on philosophy and literature.