School of Letters Department of Humanities Philosophy Course Ethics Major Major (Credit 1) Intended Year: Intended School:

Japanese Ethical Thoughts (Seminar III)B Japanese Ethical Thoughts (Seminar III)B Sub Title　 Associate Professor IIJIMA Yuuji

Numbering Code: LET-HUM3193J Course Code: 2026 FallTerm weekly Mon2 Ito Classroom J科目 (日本語, 日本語)

Course Overview

The primary objective of this course is to grasp the overall picture of the “Study of Japanese Intellectual History” that Tetsuro Watsuji (1889–1960) pursued throughout his life. In addition, we aim to deepen our understanding of the fundamental question: “What, exactly, is the study of intellectual history?” From his twenties through his later years, Watsuji consistently engaged in “intellectual history” research that involved concrete interpretations of various Japanese cultural products, although the term itself changed over time—from “cultural history” to “spiritual history (Geistesgeschichte)” to “history of ethical thought”. This semester’s course will focus on a close reading of his magnum opus, A History of Japanese Ethical Thought (1952).

Last updated

: 2026/9/15 (15:40)