Philosophical Studies in the Twenty First Century in Japan (Directions, Problems, Concepts)

Abstract

The article is focused upon the Japanese philosophical science progress over the last twenty years. The author identifies the most significant and widely debated problems during the given period, observes its principal directions and the most prominent works. The following topics are in the center of consideration: modern vision of philosophy as a science, peculiarity of understanding the phenomenon of life, undertaken within the framework of two interconnected integral ap­proaches, defined as “philosophy of life” (seimei tetsugaku) and “philosophy of coexistence” (kyosei tetsugaku), as well as the latest achievements and vectors of expansion in line with the main philosophical areas – phenomenology, analytical philosophy, traditions of the Kyoto school, and Marxism. This is the first attempt to provide general analysis of the latest Japanese philosophical works published after 2000. The interest in Japanese philosophy is dictated both by the existence of a rich philosophical tradition in this country, by the high level of modern philosophical works, that are beginning to be actively translated into Western languages and are increasingly attracting the attention of scholars over the world, as well as by the situation of social demand for philosophical literature in the do­mestic market, additional incentives to steer its development. The aim of the study is to reconstruct a more complete picture of modern philosophical thought, which is marked by lacunae due to the limited availability of a significant body of research published in national languages. Its practical importance lies in the accumulation of an information and creation of an ana­lytical base, allowing to provide orientations for the expansion of scientific cooperation with modern Ja­panese philosophers. The bibliography covers the most important vectors and significant personalities.