Cultural Philosophy of Existence

Topic: Contemplating the nature of existence within cultural, social, and natural worlds.

This seminar series will explore the concept of existence across a variety of contexts, including the impact of globalisation. Attendees will be introduced to perspectives from leading contemporary philosophers regarding what it means to exist. Is existence shaped by personal autonomy, or are individuals defined by their culture, community, or even nature itself? Throughout history, interpretations of the relationship between individuals and their environments – and how they influence one another – have evolved significantly. In Western thought, the individual has alternately been seen as governed by external forces such as God, nature, or society, or conversely, as responsible for creating diverse worlds. While postmodern philosophers in the twentieth century challenged these established views, others argued that meaningful and creative engagement between individuals and the external world emerges only when the relationship is reciprocal, complementary, and ethical. 

The seminars will examine the topic of existence as it appears in key European philosophical movements—including personalism, existentialism, ethical phenomenology, and postmodernism – alongside modern Japanese Buddhist philosophy and American idealism. Discussions will draw on the contributions of Josiah Royce (1855-1916) (the individual and the world), Nishida Kitarô (1870-1945) (the individual and its place), Emmanuel Mounier (1905-1950) (person and community), Martin Buber (1878-1965) (I and Thou), Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973) (creative fidelity), Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) (existence and humanism), Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) (being or humanism), Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961) (intersubjectivity), Emmanuel Levinas (1905-1995) (the Other), Gilles Deleuze (1925-1995) (becoming, difference and repetition), Luce Irigaray (1932-) (gender and the self), and Jean Baudrillard (1929-2007) (hyper-real existence). 

Each seminar will consider the relevance of these philosophical ideas to contemporary Western and Eastern cultures.

Lectures

1. The individual and the world: Josiah Royce (1855-1916)

Royce, J. (2005) ‘Self-consciousness, social consciousness and nature’ in The basic writings of Josiah Royce.

Royce, J. (1899-1901) The World and the Individual.

2. The I, the Thou, and the place (basho) of existence: Nishida Kitarô (1870-1945) 

Nishida, K. (1932), I and thou (Watakushi to nanji) in Nishida Kitarô Zenshû (NKZ, Complete Works of Nishida Kitarô), Vol. 6.

Nishida, K. (1927) ‘Basho’ in ‘From the acting to the seeing’ (Hataraku mono kara miru mono he) in Nishida Kitarô Zenshû (NKZ, Complete Works of Nishida Kitarô), Vol. 2.

3. Person and community: Emmanuel Mounier (1905-1950)

Mounier, E. (1950), Personalism.

4. The I and Thou relationship: Martin Buber (1978-1965)

Buber, M. (1923) I and Thou.

5. Availability and the renewal of existence in a multi-relational culture: Gabriel　Marcel (1889-1973)

Marcel, G. (1940) Creative Fidelity.

6. Other selves and the human world: Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961)

Merleau-Ponty, M. (1962) ‘Other selves and the human world’ in Phenomenology of Perception.

7. Existentialism and humanism: Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)

Sartre, J.-P. (1945) Existentialism is a Humanism

8. Being or humanism: Martin Heidegger (1889-1976)

Heidegger, M. (1946) ‘Letter on Humanism’ in Basic Writings.

9. Time, transcendence and one’s relationship with the Other: Emmanuel Levinas (1905-1995)

Leninas, E. (1969) ‘Ethics and the Face’ in Totality and Infinity, An Essay on Exteriority.

10. Postmodern existence: its origin, nature and limitations from Friedrich Nietzsche on (1844-1900)

Lyotard, J.F. (1984) The Postmodern Condition.

11. Becoming, non-sense, representation, difference and repetition: Gilles Deleuze (1925 -1995)

Deleuze, G. (1990) Logic of sense.

Deleuze, G. (1968) Difference and repetition.

12. Deconstructing the gender of existence: Luce Irigaray (1932-    )

Irigaray, L. (1985) This sex which is not one.

Irigaray, L. (1985) Speculum.

13. Hyper-reality and postmodern existence: Jean Baudrillard (1929-2007)               Baudrillard, J. (1988) Jean Baudrillard, selected writings.