Tetsuro Watsuji facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tetsuro Watsuji
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| Born | March 1, 1889 |
| Died | December 26, 1960 (aged 71) |
| Education | Himeji Chugakko |
| Alma mater | First Higher School Imperial University of Tokyo |
| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| Region | Japanese philosophy |
| School | Continental Kyoto School Watsuji Rinrigaku (Watsuji Ethics) |
| Institutions | Toyo University Hosei University Imperial University of Kyoto Ryukoku University Otani University |
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Main interests
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Aesthetics, Ethics, Culture, Religion |
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Notable ideas
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Being and Space (not just Time); Ethics as Philosophical Anthropology |
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Influenced
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Tetsuro Watsuji (和辻 哲郎, Watsuji Tetsurō, March 1, 1889 – December 26, 1960) was a famous Japanese historian and moral philosopher. He lived from 1889 to 1960. He is known for his ideas about ethics (how we should live) and how culture is shaped by the environment.
Contents
Early Life and Interests
Watsuji was born in Himeji, Japan. His father was a doctor. When he was young, Tetsuro loved poetry and Western books. He even helped edit a literary magazine and wrote poems and plays.
His interest in philosophy grew when he was a student in Tokyo. However, his love for literature stayed strong throughout his life.
Exploring Western and Japanese Ideas
In his early writings (around 1913-1915), Watsuji introduced the ideas of philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche to Japan.
But later, in 1918, he changed his mind. He started to criticize the idea of individualism from Western philosophy. He felt it was having a bad effect on Japanese thinking and life.
This led him to study Japanese culture more deeply. He looked into Japanese Buddhist art and the works of the medieval Zen Buddhist master Dōgen. Watsuji was also very interested in the famous Japanese writer Natsume Sōseki. Sōseki's books were very important during Watsuji's younger years.
Watsuji's Career as a Professor
In the early 1920s, Watsuji taught at several universities. These included Toyo, Hosei, and Keio universities. He also taught at Tsuda College.
He became very interested in hermeneutics, which is the study of understanding and interpreting texts.
Joining Kyoto Imperial University
In March 1925, Watsuji became a lecturer at Kyoto Imperial University. He joined other important philosophers there, like Nishida Kitaro. These philosophers were part of what is called the Kyoto School. Even though Watsuji worked in their department, he often had his own independent ideas. Because of this, he is not always seen as a typical member of the Kyoto School.
In July of that year, he became an associate professor of ethics.
Research Trip to Europe
In January 1927, Watsuji decided to go to Germany for three years to research the history of moral thought. He arrived in Berlin in April. That summer, he read a new book by the philosopher Heidegger called Being and Time.
He then traveled to Paris. In December, he left Paris and arrived in Genoa, Italy. From January to March 1928, he visited many Italian cities like Rome, Naples, and Venice. However, he cut his trip short and returned to Japan in July. So, his time in Europe lasted about a year.
Later Teaching Positions
In March 1931, he became a full professor at Kyoto Imperial University. Later, in July 1934, he moved to the Tokyo Imperial University. He held the ethics chair there until he retired in March 1949.
During World War II, some of his ideas supported Japanese nationalism. He had theories that suggested Japanese ways of understanding human nature and ethics were superior. After the war, he said he regretted this.
Tetsuro Watsuji passed away at the age of 71.
Main Ideas and Works
Watsuji wrote many books. His three most important works are:
- His two-volume History of Japanese Ethical Thought (published in 1954).
- His three-volume Ethics (published between 1937 and 1949).
- His 1935 book Climate.
The Idea of Climate and Culture
In his book Climate, Watsuji developed his most unique idea. He argued that there is a strong connection between the climate and other environmental factors and the way human cultures develop. He described three main types of culture based on climate: pastoral (like grasslands), desert, and monsoon (like rainy regions).
Watsuji also wrote about Kendo, a Japanese martial art. He believed Kendo helps people rise above their everyday struggles by letting go of their attachment to life.
Selected Works
Watsuji's writings are collected in a large series called Collected Works [和辻哲郎全集], which has 27 volumes.
Some of his early works include:
- Studies on Nietzsche (1913)
- Søren Kierkegaard (1915)
He also wrote about Japanese culture and history:
- Pilgrimages to the Ancient Temples (1919)
- Ancient Japanese Culture (1920)
- The Hidden Japan (1951)
His philosophical works include:
- The Practical Philosophy of Early Buddhism (1927)
- Confucius (1938)
- Climate: Philosophico-Anthropological Reflections (1935)
- Ethics, Volumes 1 and 2 (1937-1949)
He also wrote about art and society:
- The Revival of the Idol (1918)
- Mask and Persona (1937)
See also
- Kuki Shūzō
