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Overcoming Anthropocentricism: Watsuji's Ethics and Climate Change

Research Project

Project/Area Number 20F20302
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section外国
Review Section Basic Section 01010:Philosophy and ethics-related
Research InstitutionRikkyo University
Host Researcher 河野 哲也  立教大学, 文学部, 教授 (60384715)
Foreign Research Fellow SHUTTLEWORTH KYLE  立教大学, 文学部, 外国人特別研究員
Project Period (FY) 2020-11-13 – 2023-03-31
Project Status Granted (Fiscal Year 2021)
Budget Amount *help
¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥100,000)
KeywordsArnes Naess / Anthropocentricism / Climate Change / Climate (fudo) / Deep Ecology / Ecocentricism / Environmental Ethics / Japanese Philosophy
Outline of Research at the Start

The purpose of this project is twofold. Firstly, to offer a resolution to an important issue in environmental ethics, and secondly, to illustrate the relevance of Japanese philosophy in contributing towards such a resolution. It is imperative to arrive at consensus on an ethic which takes humans and their environment to be worthy of intrinsic value. By focusing on a contemporary problem and by applying Japanese ethical theory to resolve it, a secondary aim of this project will be to raise the profile of Japanese philosophy within the realm of English-language ethical theory.

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

As for this year's outputs, I published a monograph, participated in a workshop, published a translation, and researched and wrote draft papers on Watsuji and environmental philosophy. The monograph was on the ethics of authenticity, and based on my doctoral thesis. I also participated in an online workshop at Rikkyo University to increase exposure of my monograph. My translation of Watsuji Tetsuro’s essay ‘Professor Kroeber’ will be also published in April 2021. I have also spent my time researching the problem of anthropocentrism and the Deep Ecology movement, which has led to two research papers. As I mentioned, the first paper focuses on the proposed research project, of Watsuji and anthropocentrism. The second paper focuses on the founder of Deep Ecology, Arne Naess and his concept of Self-realization and Watsuji’s concept of authenticity. Next academic year, 2021, I intend to produce two research papers. The first paper will focus on establishing the ecological dimensions of Watsuji's ethics. In particular, I will seek to correlate Watsuji's philosophy to the Deep Ecology movement initiated by Arnes Naess, illustrate that Watsuji's theory has the same goal, and that Watsuji's thought can further the aim of Deep Ecology by providing a philosophical framework for the concept of symbiosis.The second paper will seek to illustrate that Watsuji's ethical philosophy provides the means to overcome the problem of Anthropocentricism.

Current Status of Research Progress
Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

With regards to progress to date, I published my monograph in late November, The History and Ethics of Authenticity with Bloomsbury. Participated in a workshop on my monograph which was organised at Rikkyo University by Professor Kono, and featured commentaries by Inutsuka Yu (Nagoya University) and Oda Kazuaki (Osaka University). In April 2021 my translation of Watsuji's essay on Professor Koeber will be published in The Journal of East Asian Philosophy. I have also researched and written draft papers on Watsuji and the problem of anthropocentrism, as per my initial research proposal, and gone beyond this by also writing a draft article on Watsuji and Arne Naess' theory of Ecosophy.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

In terms of future promotion, I will give a talk on Watsuji as part of the European Network of Japanese Philosophy online lecture series. I will also participate in an online workshop on Watsuji at Temple University. It is also my intention to organise and participate in conferences and workshops at Rikkyo University on Japanese philosophy and environmental ethics.

Report

(1 results)
  • 2020 Annual Research Report

Research Products

(2 results)

All 2021 2020

All Journal Article (1 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 1 results) Book (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Watsuji Tetsuro's Professor Koeber' in The Journal of East Asian Philosophy2021

    • Author(s)
      Kyle Michael James Shuttleworth
    • Journal Title

      The Journal of East Asian Philosophy

      Volume: 1

    • DOI

      10.1007/s43493-021-00002-9

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Book] The History and Ethics of Authenticity: Meaning, Freedom and Modernity2020

    • Author(s)
      Kyle Michael James Shuttleworth
    • Total Pages
      240
    • Publisher
      Bloomsbury USA Academic
    • ISBN
      9781350163423
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2020-11-16   Modified: 2022-04-19  

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