老子之道在當代有不同的詮釋，張祥龍先生的詮釋非常具有代表性。他引入現象學的進路，將道詮釋為非對象化的「境域」，具體指生命源頭境域，它是一切意義得以呈現的根基，具有構成性和自足性。這與老子之道的模糊性、動態性、生成性的特徵相吻合。但是，其所代表的現象學詮釋進路只能為釋放道的更生動、更原本的涵義打開一扇門，而無法窮盡道的全部含義，也無法開顯道在工夫論層面所具有的價值。

There are many contemporary approaches to explore Tao. Tao is popularly interpreted from the perspective of phenomenology nowadays; the representative figure of this approach is Zhang Xiang-long. He interprets Tao as a “non-objectified horizon” which is constitutive and self-sufficient as a structure that generates meaning, or a real experience of life in the world. It matches with the obscure, active and creating nature of Tao in the Laozi. However, his phenomenological perspective can only lead to a further disclosure of the vivid, rich, and fundamental meanings of Tao, it is difficult to deal with the value of Tao related to gongfu (self-cultivation).