The Philosophical and Historical Dynamics of Watsuji Tetsuro's Cultural Phenomenology
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2000 The philosophical and historical dynamics of Watsuji Tetsuro's cultural phenomenology Edgar Allan Weir University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Weir, Edgar Allan, "The philosophical and historical dynamics of Watsuji Tetsuro's cultural phenomenology" (2000). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1305. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/lmir-omzr This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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Weir, Jr. Bachelor o f Arts University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1999 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Department of History College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2801 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 1406417 UMI" UMI Microform 1406417 Copyright 2002 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United Stales Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval N » V The Graduate College University- of Nevada, Las Vegas J u ly 27 _,2001_ The Thesis prepared by- Edgar A. Weir, Jr. Entitled The Philosophical and Historical Dynamics of Watsujl Tetsuro's __________________C ultural Phenomenology ___________________________ IS approved in partial fuifiiiment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts À j a j '7'V..>rrJ ('.h> - Exiiim iuitiiiit C i’iitmtttee Chi. D a m o fth e Cnn/iutte CeUiye ExjiiiiittUioii Committee Member Exjmmation Conmpttee Member j i G rilling' ColL\e Foailly Representative u Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT The Philosophical and Historical Dynamics of Watsuji Tetsurd's Cultural Phenomenology by Edgar A. Weir, Jr. Dr. Sue Fawn Chung, Examination Committee Chair Professor o f History University o f Nevada, Las Vegas This study will examine one o f the greatest modem Japanese philosophers, Watsuji Tetsurô. In a long and prodigious life Watsuji produced some of the most insightful works now extant in ethics, cultural identity, and intellectual history. This work will explicate two pillars of Watsuji's philosophy: the source of authentic Japanese identity and the primacy o f human relationships within that authenticity. This study will also uncover the conjunctures between history and thought that sparked the developments and transformations in Watsuji's philosophy. More importantly, it will attempt to free Watsuji’s theories from telelogical approaches that have utilized the war, erroneously conflating Watsuji’s politics with his philosophy, as the ultimate trajectory for any analyses, and w ill endeavor to free Watsuji’s thought from Westemcentric normative judgments and subsequent approaches. m Reproduced with permission ofthe copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT................................................................................................................. üi LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................iv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................... 1 Philosophy and Japan..........................................................................................9 Introduction o f “Western” Philosophy to Japan ..................................................19 Nishi Amane: The “ Father of Japanese Philosophy” ..........................................24 Nishida Kitaro: The “ Dean o f Japanese Philosophy” ..........................................28 The Kyoto School ............................................................................................. 31 CHAPTER 2 A SHORT BIOGRAPHY...................................................................... 36 CHAPTER 3 THE PHILOSOPHY OF WATSUJI TETSURÔ.................................... 51 Martin Heidegger and Watsuji Tetsurô ..............................................................52 Fudo................................................................................................................. 54 Human Existence and Being-Betweenness ........................................................ 64 The Japanese Spirit ....................................... 70 CHAPTER 4 TRADITION AND MODERNITY........................................................ 76 State, Society, and the Individual ...................................................................... 8 6 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION.....................................................................................93 APPENDIX I: COLLECTED WRITINGS BIBLIOGRAPHY................................... 109 APPENDIX II: BIOGRAPHICAL CHRONOLOGY...................................................112 APPENDIX III: GLOSSARY..................................................................................... 118 BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................... 120 VITA...........................................................................................................................129 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. 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LIST OF FIGURES Figure I Nishida Kitaro ............................................................................................ 28 Figure 2 U.S. activity in the Pacific ...........................................................................34 Figure 3 Watsuji in his school uniform ..................................................................... 36 Figure 4 Watsuji with classmates ..............................................................................36 Figure 5 Watsuji in high school .................................................................................37 Figure 6 Raphael von Koeber ....................................................................................39 Figure 7 Watsuji’s attempt to locate common dialogue ............................................. 40 Figure 8 Watsuji in his 20s ....................................................................................... 41 Figure 9 Watsuji and Teru .........................................................................................45 Figure 10 Watsuji and others .......................................................................................48 Figure 11 Martin Heidegger ........................................................................................52 Figure 12 Co-Prosperity Sphere ..................................................................................96 Figure 13 The Light o f Asia ........................................................................................97 Figure 14 Watsuji in 1950 .......................................................................................