JW:14 thought and philosophy

1 / 30

Japan and the WestThought and Philosophy

2 / 30

Today in History (not...)

14 July 1789: “Storming of the Bastille”

3 / 30

“Rights of Man”

August 1789

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Drew on other similar precedents:

US Declaration of Independence (1776)

UK Bill of Rights (1689)

4 / 30

Universal Rights

1: Men are born and remain free and equal in rights.

3: The principle of any sovereignty resides essentially in the Nation.

5: The law has the right to forbid only actions harmful to society.

10: No one may be disturbed for his opinions, even religious ones, provided that their manifestation does not trouble the public order established by the law.

11: The free communication of thoughts and of opinions is one of the most precious rights of man.

5 / 30

Ideas spread...

Europe 1810

6 / 30

Late Tokugawa thinking

Confucianism

− Historical tradition with great prestige 'Japanese learning' (kokugaku 国学 )

− Mid-Tokugawa reaction to perceived dominance of thought from China

Dutch studies (rangaku 蘭学 )

− Through translations of imported books starting from 1770s

7 / 30

“Dutch Learning”

Started with translation of Tafel Anatomia (also Ontleedkundige Tafelen) by Sugita Gempaku (1733-1817) and colleagues.

8 / 30

European knowledge spreads

From late c18 more publications of translations made easier by Inamura Sampaku's Edo Halma Dutch-Japanese dictionary (1796)

1814: first J-E dictionary: Angeria Gorin Taisei

9 / 30




10 / 30




諳厄利亜語林大成

11 / 30

Iwakura Mission

1871-3 Visited apx. 20

countries

1.Renegotiate unequal treaties

2.Gather useful information

12 / 30

Nakae Chomin(Tokusuke) 1847-1901

Studied philosophy, history and French literature in Paris

Translated Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78)

− The Social Contract− Division of

'sovereign', the people, the 'general will' 'government' which deals with specific

applications of law.

13 / 30

Nakae Chomin

Left Meiji govt. disillusioned From 1874: propagated 'western

democratic' ideas through education and newspapers.

Attempted to promote:

− egalitarianism− liberalism

Briefly entered Diet (1890), again left in disgust...

15 / 30

“Self-help”

First philosophical ideas to enter Japan were those of English-language writers:

J.S. Mill (On Liberty), J. Bentham (utilitarianism), H. Spencer (social darwinism) etc.

1871: Nakamura Masanao translated Samuel Smiles' Self-Help.

− “when the majority of a nation's people “help themselves”, that state is filled with vigor and is strong in spirit”

16 / 30

Meirokusha – The Meiji 6 Society

1874 - c1900 A group of intellectual aimed at

promoting 'enlightenment and civilisation'

− Fukuzawa Yukichi− Mori Arinori− Mitsukuri Rinsho etc

Published Meiroku Zasshi until 1875 when banned

17 / 30

Bunmei kaika 文明開化 ...

“Enlightenment” movement, 1868-1890apx Western ideas imported rapidly and haphazardly Radicals demanded 'westernisation' of every aspect

of Japanese life:

− “there is not one thing in which we excel...All that Japan has to be proud of is its scenery” Fukuzawa Yukichi*

* Ward R.E. (1968) Political Development in Modern Japan, Princeton Univ. Press

18 / 30

“Return to Japan”

conservative reaction (>1880s) Motoda Eifu (Nagazane) (1818-1891) Confucian scholar, deeply concerned at western

influence in education (espec. Ethics) Along with Inoue Kowashi, responsible for

Confucian elements of Imperial Rescript on Education...

19 / 30

Imperial Rescript on Education

Kyoiku ni kansuru chokugo (教育ニ関スル勅語 ) Issued 20 Oct 1890

Killed off educational liberalism seen in 1870s

Created a 'basis for moral orthodoxy'

Remained the fundamental of ethical principles until 1945.

20 / 30

NISHIDA Kitaro (1870-1945)

“ the most significant and influential Japanese philosopher of the twentieth-century”*

Attended Tokyo Imperial Univ. 1891-4

Studied Zen in Kyoto 1914, Prof. of Philosophy Kyoto

Imperial Univ.

* http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nishida-kitaro/

21 / 30

Work

“frustrating for its repetitive and often obscure style, exceedingly abstract formulations, and detailed but frequently dead-end investigations”

1905: An Inquiry into the Good (Zen) “Absolute nothingness” (zettai-mu) Theology: relationship between the self and the

infinite. Politics: nation, culture, religion basho

* quote from - http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nishida-kitaro/

22 / 30

The 'Kyoto School'

Collection of thinkers with a variety of approaches and outlooks, perhaps united by an interest in 'nothingness'.

Neither simply 'western' nor 'eastern' Closely linked with religious thought, particularly

Mahayana Buddhism (Zen) Politically contentious...

23 / 30

D.(Daisetz)T. Suzuki (1870-1966)

Studied at Tokyo Imperial Univ. 1890s invited to travel to US to translate Japanese

and Chinese religious texts 1911: married 'Theosophist' Beatrice Lane

1920s-50sPublished many works and translations which introduced Zen Buddhism to 'the West' particularly the US.

24 / 30

Martin HEIDEGGER (1889-1976)

“His ideas have exerted a seminal influence on the development of contemporary European philosophy”

At Univ. of Freiburg taught Tanabe Hajime (founder member of Kyoto School)

Seems to have been influenced by ideas from Zen Buddhism and Tao-ism.

Suspected of being a Nazi.

See: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/heidegger/

25 / 30

WATSUJI Tetsuro (1889-1960)

Tokyo: Studied under Nitobe Inazo (Bushido), later became friends with Natsume Soseki.

1912: Graduated from Tokyo Imperial University

Taught at various places until 1925, Kyoto Univ.

Spent 14 months in Germany 1927-8.

26 / 30

Climate and Culture

Cultures are determined by climates There are three climatic areas:

− Monsoon (China, India, Japan?)− Desert (Arabia, Africa, Mongolia)− Meadow (Europe)

Each creates its own type of culture and character…

27 / 30

Climatic meanings...

Meadow / Europe

− Nature is benign, 'rational', orderly− European 'science'

Monsoon / Asia

− Nature is dangerous, aggressive, unpredictable

− Asian 'resignation to fate'

28 / 30

But...

Japan's climate is unique and different... On the edge of the 'monsoon' zone; having 4

seasons Japan home to a “distinctive form of selfless

action”, different to both Asian 'passivity' and Western 'individualism'

Indictment of 'western' individualism, materialism and rationalism

29 / 30

Climatic determinism...

There's only one climate so there can only be one possible culture…

Climates don't change so why should cultures? Perhaps it's not just by chance that the climate

best suited for a superlatively creative culture happens to occur in Japan…

Japan is 'non-Western' and also 'non-Asian'.

30 / 30

Publications (a lot of!!)

1920: Nihon Kodai Bunka (Japan's Ancient Culture) 1925: Nihon Seishin-shi Kenkyu (Researches on

Japan's Spiritual History) 1935: Fudo (Climate and Culture, 1961) 1936: Koshi (Confucius) 1937: Rinrigaku (Ethics) Etc etc...

31 / 30

Next Week...

Exam Prepare to write two short essays (apx.

15mins each) on two people mentioned during these lectures.

Brief biography and explanation of their role/achievements in dialog between Japan and the West