Toyo University International Research Center for Philosophy NEWSLETTER Vol.9 / Mar.2015 General Symposium “What Does It Mean to Internationalize? : Where the Toyo University International Research Center for Philosophy Has Been, and Where It Is Going” On September 24, 2014, the Interna- forms as a chronology of relevant literature and selected works of tional Research Center for Philosophy lnoue Enryō. lnternational Association for lnoue Enryō Research was (IRCP) held a general symposium titled also established based on these provided foundations. For the future, “What Does It Mean toInternational- there is a need to lay shared basic foundations in the form of English ize? : Where the Toyo University Inter- and Spanish translations of Inoue’s writings that would enable further national Research Center for Philosophy international research. Has Been, and Where It Is Going” at the IWAI’s report, “Reinterrogating Modern Japan Philosophy”, Toyo University Hakusan Campus looked back on the activities of 1st Unit as Iwai considered the ways (Building 5, Room 5404). in which the products of future research might be compiled. The the- For the IRCP, the sense of the issues at matic sparks that initiated the study group meetings held by 1st Unit stake has been that internationalization could clearly be broken down into two broad categories in terms of should not be a simple matter of achiev- the major issues in play with respect to the formation of modern Japa- ing a globalized state where all indige- nese philosophy : (1) the reception of Western philosophy and (2) nousness is absent. Rather, it should be the rediscovery of traditional East Asian thought as philosophy. In the grounded in the cultures of each and future, IWAI said, efforts will be made to draw together studies under every individual. Cultural differences the theme of “Views of Humanity and the World in the Meiji Pe- should provide the foundation, and each riod.” and every culture should retain its unique The meetings held by 2nd Unit have centered on studies of “meth- qualities as it interacts with others. The odologies,” “a philosophy of post−Fukushima”, and “the concept of symposium was convened jointly by the “law”” MURAKAMI Katsuzo (IRCP Researcher) led off this section three units comprising the IRCP, for with reports on “methodologies” research and “a philosophy of post− them to report on the products of the Fukushima”, followed by NUMATA Ichiro (IRCP Researcher) with program’s work to date and the prospects his report on “the concept of “law”” MURAKAMI broke up his re- for the future. port on the results of methodologies studies into three parts. The first 1st Unit holds meetings centered on touched on results in line with their embodiment and the associated Inoue Enryō studies and studies in mod- problems. He brought up three specific items by way of illustration : ern Japanese philosophy. MIURA Setsuo (1) research related to methodologies in separate specialized disci- (IRCP Researcher) reported on matters plines focused on philosophy (the ways in which the foundations for related to the former topic, while IWAI scholarly knowledge are created), (2) basic philosophical concepts and Shogo (IRCP Researcher) did the same international commonalities in connection with those fundamental for the latter. In his report titled “Toward Internationalizing Inoue positions (experiencing international standards of contemplation and Enryō,” MIURA looked back on 35 years of Inoue research and spoke concept), and (3) methods for sharing techniques among separate spe- of its future outlook. The first phase of study in the field came with cialized disciplines in the humanities (expansion of scholarly fields the creation of the Inoue Enryō study group and its three subgroups through border−crossing sessions). The second part addressed the im- as Toyo University approached the hundredth anniversary of its portance of using the Internet as a research and educational tool. The founding. The group’s findings have appeared in numerous publica- third part touched on efforts to address the issue of methodological tions. Foundations for future research have also appeared in such studies in world philosophy running through both Eastern and West- IRCP Newsletter Vol.9 1 ern philosophy and religion as a scholarly method in and of itself. The item. The main outcome was the ability to explore current conditions importance of this effort was made plain in the course of working on and issues in play regarding the coexistence of religions in Asian na- and simultaneously elucidating three approaches : (1) the pragmatic tions such as India, Bhutan, and Myanmar. The topic that received building of knowledge networks, (2) universal methodologies, and (3) the greatest attention was meditation. The question of what effect the methods of systemization. Among the topics of discussion in this re- quite peaceful ascetic practice of meditation produces in multicultural gard was the suggestion that classroom exchanges with foreign univer- and multifaith societies was to be explored further in a symposium to sities via the Internet should be quickly implemented as a part of be held in November, said MIYAMOTO. The research to date has as- graduate school education. certained that coexistence among multiple cultures is important, re- MURAKAMI then moved on to the topic of a philosophy of post− searchers need a perspective that is unified, and there are the materials Fukushima. He firstdiscussed how transnational lectures broadcast ready for bringing together whatever means are available. MI- over the Internet, the showing of relevant movies, speeches by persons YAMOTO concluded by saying he hoped to see further studies done involved with helping victims, and reports by scholars of philosophy into why such means had not been available until the present and on their findings served to bring out the unique characteristics of what could be done to bring them closer to hand through explora- knowledge that would permit dealingwiththeundetectable substance tions of multicultural realities through field work. that is radiation from a philosophical perspective. He also spoke of the NAGAI Shin (IRCP Researcher) addressed the second topic with a need to develop a standpoint from which to uniformly view truth, talk titled “Toward Constructing a Philosophy of Coexistence : a good, and being in order to resolve the difficulties of the present situ- Dialog with Iran−Islam” that presented what scholarly exchanges with ation. Iran have produced thus far and their future prospects. He spoke of NUMATA then took the podium to explain how the symposiums the role that Iran has had over history, due to its geography among on the concept of law conducted to date have highlighted two specific other reasons, in mediating various cultures as an intermediary be- sets of problems, (1) the problems that arise when speaking of “law,” tween East and West. Conditions at present are such that cultural and and (2) problems with the internationalization of comparative studies religious coexistence is now a burning question on a global scale. The that arise in the course of this research. According to his report, com- frame of reference that Iran provides for a Japan whose attention has parative research into the processesofcontactandreception of differ- been directed wholly toward the U.S. and Europe, NAGAI argued, is ent legal systems becomes possible by collecting a wide temporo−spa- extremely important for the numerous suggestions it has to offer. The tially variety of evaluations of law. This would be surest way to dis- scholarly exchanges with which the Unit has been involved are based cover the universality of law. Of the methods for such comparative re- on this sense of the issues at stake. A symposium took place in Japan search, NUMATA stressed in his report the importance of interna- in 2012, followed by a research gathering at Iran’s Academy of Sci- tionalization in the field, while saying that it was important to simul- ences addressing the topic of what East taneously interrogate its essence. and West are. Another symposium will The focus for 3rd Unit has been research on the basis of thought be held in fiscal 2014 as well and further for a society of multicultural harmonious coexistence. Its goal has exchanges planned or underway, all with been to assess primarily from religious and philosophical perspectives the goal of generating new, concrete re- the various issues that cultural and religious diversity, with their vari- sults out of a relationship that has been ous tenets, produce in society, with the aim of discovering the intellec- tense for both sides. tual foundations that will make coexistence−as in living happily to- Questions and comments delivered gether−possible. To that end, the Unithasactively invited researchers during the general discussion concluding either from abroad or who have been conducting investigations in the the symposium addressed expectations field overseas. Specific research has focused on (1) studies related to for the Center and the future outlook. cultural and religious coexistence in Asia, (2) dialogue with Iran−Is- With an attendance of 42 members, the lam, and (3) studies of coexistence from the perspective of philosophy event was substantive and productive. proper. MIYAMOTO Hisayoshi (IRCP Researcher) reported on the first Report on the 3rd Academic Conference of the International Association for Inoue Enryō Research On September 13, 2014, the 3rd Annual Conference of the Inter- presentation of five research projects and one special lecture. national Association for Inoue Enryō Research was held at the Toyo The showcasing of individual research projects began with a pre- University Hakusan Campus (Building 8, 125 Memorial Hall). Re- sentation entitled “Herbert Spencer and Inoue Enryo” that was given searchers from across Japan and around the world gathered for the by HASEGAWA Takuya (Otani University). While broadly outlining 2 IRCP Newsletter Vol.9 Spencer’s philosophy, HASEGAWA fo- that encompasses opposites constitutes an ultimate standpoint but was cused on aspects tied to the reconciliation unable to show the nature of the essential reality of such a standpoint.