A Comparative Study of "Philanthropy" working in Western Societies and "Benevolence" succeeded in Japanese Society

1989 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 63510028
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: 倫理学
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: SPENNEMANN Klaus Doshisha Univ., F. of Letters, Professor, 文学部, 教授 (40121595)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OKITA Yukuji Doshisha Univ., F. of L., Professor, 文学部, 教授 (20131287) ; YOSHIDA Kenji Doshisha Univ., F. of L., Professor, 文学部, 教授 (50066247)
• Project Period (FY): 1988 – 1989
• Keywords: Social Essence / Human Logos / Universal Man / Jo / Benevolence and Philanthropy / Mono no Aware / Sympathy and Generosity / Absolute Commitment and Sincerity

Research Abstract

"LOVE" can be grasped as the manifestation of human essence. It symbolizes the aspect of apollonic human lives. Put the hope for dissolution and rebirth of Dionysiac lives developed into "LOVE" of God in the medieval ages. And the covenant between God and man asked people to practice "LOVE", then, "LOVE" attained "Philanthropy". On the other hand, KOKUGAKU, which finds the ground of LOVE amid the living of human beings who are relying upon the nature itself named "Mono no Aware", gives the Japanese transformation to "Benevolence" putting the stress on the interaction depending upon the principle of sympathy and generosity. It was logical adaptation of "Jo", which means the compound of sympathy, compassion, fellow feeling, commisseration, mercy, charity, benevolence, clemency and kindness.
Thus, "Philanthropy" was accepted by Japanese on the thought of "Benevolence", but it is also the reason why "Philanthropy" is taken by Japanese as almost the same concept with "The Great Compassion" of Buddha which is lacking the justification by faith. Therefore, as "Benevolence" rests on the ground of sympathy and generosity among human beings, and as "Philanthropy" is the vindication of the human freedom controlled by conscience to follow God's will, "Philanthropy" and "Benevolence" are interrelated each other in the extent of human range of "LOVE". Telling from the side of "Philanthropy", "Benevolence" is the generosity to give others voluntarily whatever things needed without feeling any coercion in the belief of others' goodwill. On the contrary, speaking from the side of "Benevolence", "Philanthropy" is the sympathized "act to be" for humankind.
"Philanthropy" is the working ground of social welfare, but it should not be forgotten that the American Indians and the Blacks had to bear their harsh fate in the United States of America where "Philanthropy" was chosen as the important component of her foundation.