Place and Dialectic: Two Essays by Nishida Kitaro

ISBN-13: 9780199841172 / Angielski / Twarda / 2011 / 288 str.

Kitaro Nishida; John W. M. Krummel; Shigenori Nagatomo

Opis

Place and Dialectic presents two essays by Nishida Kitaro, translated into English for the first time by John W.M. Krummel and Shigenori Nagatomo. Nishida is widely regarded as one of the father figures of modern Japanese philosophy and as the founder of the first distinctly Japanese school of philosophy, the Kyoto school, known for its synthesis of western philosophy, Christian theology, and Buddhist thought. The two essays included here are ''Basho'' from 1926/27 and ''Logic and Life'' from 1936/37. Each essay is divided into several sections and each section is preceded by a synopsis added by the translators.

The first essay represents the first systematic articulation of Nishida's philosophy of basho, literally meaning ''place, '' a system of thought that came to be known as ''Nishida philosophy.'' In the second essay, Nishida inquires after the pre-logical origin of what we call logic, which he suggests is to be found within the dialectical unfoldings of world history and human society. A substantial introduction by John Krummel considers the significance of Nishida as a thinker, discusses the key components of Nishida's philosophy as a whole and its development throughout his life, and contextualizes the translated essays within his oeuvre. The Introduction also places Nishida and his work within the historical context of his time, and highlights the relevance of his ideas to the global circumstances of our day. The publication of these two essays by Nishida, a major figure in world philosophy and the most important philosopher of twentieth-century Japan, is of significant value to the fields not only of Asian philosophy and East-West comparative philosophy but also of philosophy in general as well as of theology and religious studies.

Recenzje

Place and Dialecticis an outstanding and at times brilliant translation of two essays central to the work of the Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro including his trailblazing essay 'Basho.' The translators' sensitivity for the nuances of the Japanese and English languages as well as their first-rate understanding of Nishida's place in the history of philosophy ensure the quality of this must-read for anyone interested in philosophy. This translation will go a long way of making the philosophy of Nishida accessible to those unfamiliar with the Japanese philosophical tradition and language as it highlights Nishida's unique contribution to world philosophy.

O autorze

Kitaro Nishida was Professor of Philosophy at Tokyo University until his death in 1947; John W.M. Krummel is Assistant Professor of Religion at Hobart and William Smith Colleges; Shigenori Nagatomo is Associate Professor of Religion at Temple University.