The Kyoto school: an introduction

This book provides a much-needed introduction to the Kyoto School of Japanese philosophy. Robert. E. Carter focuses on four influential Japanese philosophers: the three most important members of the Kyoto School (Nishida Kitaro, Tanabe Hajime, and Nishitani Keiji), and a fourth (Watsuji Tetsuro), who was, at most, an associate member of the school. Each of these thinkers wrestled systematically with the Eastern idea of "nothingness", albeit from very different perspectives. Many Western scholars, students, and serious general readers are intrigued by this school of thought, which reflects Japan's engagement with the West. A number of works by various thinkers associated with the Kyoto School are now available in English, but these works are often difficult to grasp for those not already well- versed in the philosophical and historical context. Carter's book provides an accessible yet substantive introduction to the school and offers an East-West dialogue that enriches our understanding of Japanese thought while also shedding light on our own assumptions, habits of thought, and prejudices

40021904227

Forlagsnummer: 40021904227

Introduction (A different kind of philosophy -- The Buddhist background -- The Kyoto school), -- 1. Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945) (Background -- The early years: education -- Pure experience -- A unifying power -- The place of doubt -- Becoming the thing itself -- Absolute nothingness -- On becoming enlightened -- Self and world -- Ethics and evil -- Ethics -- Nishida and mysticism). -- 2. Tanabe Hajime (1885-1962) (Life and Work -- Metanoetics -- Mediation -- Mediation and absolute mediation -- The logic of the specific -- The eentrality of ethics -- Critique of reason -- The ethics of metanoetics -- Society transformed). -- 3. Nishitani Keiji (1900-1990) (Life and career -- Nietzsche and nihilism -- The ten ox-herding pictures -- The meaning of "nothingness" -- A way out -- Enlightenment -- Relative and absolute nothingness -- The self -- Selfless ethics). -- 4. Watsuji Tetsuro (1889-1960) (Life and career -- Climate and culture -- Ethics as the study of man -- Double negation -- The importance of relationships -- The Confucian background -- In the betweenness -- Kokoro and Aidagara -- Watsuji and nothingness -- Back to the everyday world -- The importance of the body -- Conclusion…