The Way of Zen, the Way of Tao: Study of Alan Watts and His Legacy

Bc. Laura Lucia Mazuchová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This diploma thesis aims to explore the teaching of Alan Watts, a populariser of Zen in the 1950s and 1960s. It attempts to contextualize the young American countercultural society, among which were the Beat poets and the Hippies who refused the materialistic lifestyle and rather pursued pleasure and spirituality. By introducing one of his most well-known work The Way of Zen, this thesis demonstrates the main ideas that were appropriated by trends of the contemporary society, as well as whether such method can be deemed as a form of Orientalism.

Abstract:

This diploma thesis aims to explore the teaching of Alan Watts, a populariser of Zen in the 1950s and 1960s. It attempts to contextualize the young American countercultural society, among which were the Beat poets and the Hippies who refused the materialistic lifestyle and rather pursued pleasure and spirituality. By introducing one of his most well-known work The Way of Zen, this thesis demonstrates the main ideas that were appropriated by trends of the contemporary society, as well as whether such method can be deemed as a form of Orientalism.

Keywords

Alan Watts, counterculture, Beat generation, Hippie movement, Zen, Taoism, Buddhism, Orientalism

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 18. 1. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 30. 1. 2023
• Supervisor: M.A. Jeffrey Alan Smith, Ph.D.
• Reader: doc. Mgr. Tomáš Kačer, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
English Language and Literature / English Language and Literature