Abstract
In this chapter I attempt a rereading of Nishida Kitarō’s moral philosophy through the lens of virtue ethics, with a particular focus on Zen no Kenkyū. As is well known, Nishida strongly criticizes hedonic and authority theories, which emphasize that conduct should rely on external norms. Nishida argues that the good is the actualization of one’s personality or internal demands. I suggest that virtue ethics may, therefore, help to rearticulate Nishida’s moral philosophy in a manner that is more systematic and intelligible, especially with respect to its features of feeling and agent-centeredness.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
The English translation is taken from Abe Masao and Christopher Ives, An Inquiry into the Good. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1990. The original text in Japanese refers to 新版『西田幾多郎全集』 (hereinafter, NKZb). Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 2002–2009.
- 2.
- 3.
Energetism refers to an “ethical theory that bases itself on such fundamental ideas”, that is, the “internal demands of consciousness, not from without”. Nishida argues that such “fundamental ideas” or “internal demands” “appear in the consciousness as goal concepts which unify consciousness; when such unification reaches completion—when ideals are realized—we feel satisfaction. When we go against theses ideals, we feel dissatisfaction”. As a result, as “Aristotle wrote that the goal of human life is happiness (eudaimonia), and that we research this happiness through prefect action, not through the pursuit of pleasure” (Abe and Ives 1990:122–123; NKZb 1:114–115).
- 4.
Rosalind Hursthouse, On Virtue Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, p. 7.
- 5.
Regarding the influence of Nakajima Rikizō on Nishida, see Yukiyasu Shigeru, Modern Japanese Thinkers and British Idealism, pp. 108–143 and 藤田正勝 (Fujita Masakatsu), 「人間・西田幾多郎—未完の哲学」(Nishida Kitarō as a Human Being: Unfinished Philosophy). Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 2020, pp. 37–41.
- 6.
「グリーン氏倫理哲学の大意」緒言・第一編(An Outline of Green Moral Philosophy, Prologue, Part I)『教育時論』(Topics on Education), No. 362, May 5, 1895, 「グリーン氏倫理哲学の大意(承前)」緒言・第二編(An Outline of Green Moral Philosophy, Prologue, Part II), 『教育時論』(Topics on Education), No. 363, May 15, 1895,「グリーン氏倫理哲学の大意(承前)」緒言・第三編 (An Outline of Green Moral Philosophy, Prologue, Part III), 『教育時論』 (Topics on Education), No. 364, May 25, 1895, 「カント倫理学主義」 (Kantian Ethical Discourse),『北辰会雑誌』 (The Journal of Hokushinkai), No. 29, April 3, 1901, 「倫理学説(一)」 (Ethical Discourse I), 『東亜之光』(Tōa no hikari), Vol. 3, No. 3, March 1, 1908, 「倫理学説(二)」(Ethical Discourse II), 『東亜之光』(Tōa no hikari), Vol. 3, No. 4, April 1, 1908,「倫理学説(三)」(Ethical Discourse III), 『東亜之光』(Tōa no hikari), Vol. 3, No. 6, June 1, 1908,「倫理学説(四)」(Ethical Discourse IV), 『東亜之光』(Tōa no hikari), Vol. 3, No. 7, July 1, 1908, and「倫理学説(五)」(Ethical Discourse V), 『東亜之光』(Tōa no hikari), Vol. 3, No. 8, August 1, 1908. For details, see NKZb 24:181–183.
- 7.
Regarding the background of Part III of Zen no kenkyū, see 藤田正勝Fujita Makastsu, 「後記」(Postscript), NKZb 1:460–461.
- 8.
David A. Dilworth translated Nishida’s article「場所的論理と宗教的世界観」as “The Logic of the Place of Nothingness and the Religious Worldview”. I suggest that this translation is problematic. The word “Nothingness” is not included in the original title. Furthermore, the term logic is a potentially confusing translation for ronri 論理, as Nishida does not follow what “Western” or at least “Aristotelian” sense of logic. See David A. Dilworth, Last Writings: Nothingness and the Religious Worldview. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 1993.
- 9.
- 10.
The translation here is not compatible with the original text in Japanese.
- 11.
The original text in Japanese is「カントは又Metaphysik der SittenとWolfのgeneral practical philosophyとを区別し、前者はpure willのprincipleのみを研究し、後者はvolition一般に関して其action & conditionを講究する者也。」
- 12.
The original text in Japanese is: 「吾人のwillはReasonに由て動かさるゝと共に、又feelingに由て動かさる者なり。」
- 13.
『荀子集解』(Xunzijijie). 上海涵芬樓 (Shanghaihanfenlou), 1907–1932 (year of publication, unknown)『荀子箋釈』(Xunzijianshi). Tokyo: Hokokudō, 1884, and 『先哲遺著漢籍国字解全書』(Xianzheyizhuhanjiguozijiequanshu). Waseda University Press, 1912. See 山下正男 Yamashita Masao, ed.,『西田幾多郎全蔵書目録』(A Catalog of Nishida Kitarō’s Complete Collection of Books). Kyoto: Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University, 1984, p. 197 and p. 188.
References
Abe, Masao and Christopher Ives. trans. An Inquiry into the Good. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1990.
Angle, C. Stephen and Michael Slote, eds. Virtue Ethics and Confucianism. London: Routledge, 2013.
Besser-Jones, Lorraine and Michael Slote. eds. The Routledge Companion to Virtue Ethics. New York and London: Routledge, 2015.
Crisp, Roger and Michael Slote, Virtue Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997, reprinted in 2013.
Dilworth, A. David. Last Writings: Nothingness and the Religious Worldview. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 1993.
Goto-Jones, Christopher S. “Ethics and politics in early Nishida: reconsidering Zen no Kenkyū.” Philosophy East and West, vol. 53, no. 4, (Oct. 2003): 514-536
Goto-Jones, Christopher S. Political Philosophy in Japan: Nishida, the Kyoto School and Co-Prosperity. London and New York: Routledge, 2005
Huang, Yong. Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: Continuum Publications, 2013.
Huang, Yong. 『当代美德伦理:古代倫家的贡献』(Contemporary Virtue Ethics: Contributions from Ancient Confucianism). Shanghai: Dongfangchubanzongxin, 2019,
Hursthouse, Rosaline. On Virtue Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999, reprinted in 2010.
Hutton, L. Eric. tran. Xunzi: The Complete Text. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2016.
Hutton, L. Eric. “Xunzi and Virtue Ethics,” Lorraine Besser-Jones and Michael Slote. eds. The Routledge Companion to Virtue Ethics. New York and London: Routledge, 2015, pp. 113-125.
Ivanhoe, J. Philip. “Virtue Ethics in the Chinese Confucian Tradition.” Russell, Daniel C. ed.. The Cambridge Companion to Virtue Ethics. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2013, pp. 49-69.
Kōsaka, Shirō 高坂史郎. 『実践哲学の基礎—西田哲学の思索の中で—』(Foundation of Practical Philosophy: The Thought of Nishida Kitarō). Osaka: Sōgensha. 1983.
Nishida, Kitarō西田幾多郎. 新版『西田幾多郎全集』(Complete Works of Nishida Kitarō, New Edition). Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 2002-2009.
Sim, May Remastering Morals with Aristotle and Confucius. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Van Norden, Bryan W. Virtue Ethics and Consequentialism in Early Chinese Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Yanagida, Kenjyūrō 柳田謙十郎.『実践哲学としての西田哲学』(Nishida Philosophy as Practical philosophy). Tokyo: Kōbundō shobō, 1939.
Yu, Jiyuan. The Ethics of Confucius and Aristotle: Mirrors of Virtue. London: Routledge, 2009.
Yukiyasu, Shigeru 行安茂.『近代日本の思想家とイギリス理想主義』(Modern Japanese Thinkers and British Idealism). Tokyo: Hokuju, 2007.
Yukiyasu, Shigeru 行安茂. 「西田幾多郎とT・H・グリーン」(Nishida Kitarō and T. H. Green), 『日本哲学史研究』(Studies in Japanese Philosophy), Vol. 9, September 2012, pp. 1-22.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lam, W.K. (2022). Nishida Kitarō and Virtue Ethics: With a Focus on Zen no Kenkyū. In: Matsumaru, H., Arisaka, Y., Schultz, L.C. (eds) Tetsugaku Companion to Nishida Kitarō. Tetsugaku Companions to Japanese Philosophy, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41784-4_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41784-4_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-41783-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-41784-4
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)