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.
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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.
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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
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