Japanese and Continental Philosophy: Conversations with the Kyoto School

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Conversa -tions with the Kyoto School Edited by Bret W. Da -vis, Bria -n Schroeder, a -nd Ja -son M. Wirth Ja -pa -nese a -nd Continenta -l Philosophy INDIANA INDIANA University Press Bloomington & Indianapolis iupress.indiana.edu 1-800-842-6796 STUDIES IN CONTiNENtal THOUGHT Ja -pa -nese a -nd Continenta -l Philosophy Da -vis, Schroeder, a -nd Wirth “Japanese and Continental Philosophy is a breathtaking venture into the lively world that opens between the Kyoto School and Western philosophy of a continental cast. If anyone harbors any doubts as to the value of bringing together these traditions, these doubts will be utterly dissipated upon reading this scintillating text. This is a book to savor, as timely in its appearance as it is replete with wisdom in its offering.” —Edward S. Casey, SUNY Stony Brook “After a hundred and fifty years of studying Western thought and rethinking it from their own spiritual and intellectual resources, Japanese philosophers have arrived at a watershed in securing their rightful place within a philosophical forum more open and comprehensive than ever before. The encounter of Western scholars with the Kyoto school has played a pivotal role in this turn of events. What is more, as the essays brought together in this book attest, the conversations have grown beyond one of translation, synopsis, and critical commentary for foreign consumption to include important contributions to that tradition itself.” —James W. Heisig, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture Recognizing the importance of the Kyoto School and its influence on philosophy , politics, religion, and Asian studies, Japanese and Continental Philosophy initiates a conversation between Japanese andWestern philosophers . The essays in this cross-cultural volume put Kyoto School thinkers in conversation with German Idealism, Nietzsche, phenomenology, and other figures and schools of the Continental tradition such as Levinas and Irigaray. Set in the context of global philosophy, this volume offers critical, innovative, and productive dialogue between some of the most influential philosophical figures from East and West. Bret W. Davis is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Maryland. Brian Schroeder is Professor and Department Chair of Philosophy and Director of Religious Studies at Rochester Institute of Technology. Jason M. Wirth is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University. Cover illustration: Hakuin, Three Blind Men. Studies in Continenta -l Thought John Sallis, editor Philosophy Dia -logues between two importa -nt philosophica -l tra -ditions Japanese-Cont. Philosophy MECH.indd 1 11/8/10 9:40 AM Japanese and Continental Philosophy Studies in Continental Thought John Sallis, editor consulting editors Robert Bernasconi Rudolph Bernet John D. Caputo David Carr Edward S. Casey Hubert Dreyfus Don Ihde David Farrell Krell Lenore Langsdorf Alphonso Lingis William L. McBride J. N. Mohanty Mary Rawlinson Tom Rockmore Calvin O. Schrag † Reiner Schürmann Charles E. Scott Thomas Sheehan Robert Sokolowski Bruce W. Wilshire David Wood Japanese and Continental Philosophy Conversations with the Kyoto School edited by Bret W. Davis, Brian Schroeder, and Jason M. Wirth Indiana University Press bloomington & indianapolis This book is a publication of Indiana University Press 601 North Morton Street Bloomington, Indiana 47404-3797 USA www.iupress.indiana.edu Telephone orders 800-842-6796 Fax orders 812-855-7931 Orders by e-mail iuporder@indiana.edu© 2011 by Indiana University Press All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses’ Resolution on Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. manufactured in the united states of america Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Japanese and Continental philosophy : conversations with the Kyoto School / edited by Bret W. Davis, Brian Schroeder, and Jason M. Wirth. p. cm. — (Studies in Continental thought) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-253-35544-7 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-25322254 -1 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Philosophy, Japanese. 2. Philosophy, Comparative . 3. Continental philosophy. 4. Nishida, Kitaro, 1870–1945. 5. Nishitani, Keiji, 1900– 6. Tanabe, Hajime, 1885–1962. I. Davis, Bret W. II. Schroeder, Brian. III. Wirth, Jason M., [date] B5241...