Simone Weil, who led a tragically intense life worthy of being called a “saint” and died young at the age of 34. It is said that her ideas continue to influence many people even now.

Early Life and Family

Born in Paris in 1909, Simone Weil grew up in a wealthy Jewish family. Her father, a doctor, provided her with a strict education and gave her opportunities to discuss philosophy and politics.

Her mother raised her with an almost overprotective nervousness, fearing that her daughter would become ill. Her mother, who suffered from germophobia, disinfected everything her daughter touched and even forbade kissing. It is said that this led to Weil’s distrust of men.

Her older brother André, who later became a mathematician, had a significant influence on Weil. Discussions with her brother about philosophy, politics, and thought played a major role in the formation of her ideas.

Anorexia, Communism, and Labor

Her germophobia worsened, and Weil gradually began to suffer from anorexia. She also became inclined towards communism but felt disgusted by the authoritarian leaders who were detached from the workers.

To understand the suffering of laborers, she worked in exploitative production sites, experiencing firsthand the subservient position of workers. This experience led to her later principle of action: “self-sacrifice.”

Encounter and Conflict with Christianity

Weil, believing that her own actions were not mere self-satisfaction, was deeply moved by Christ’s sacrificial crucifixion and sought salvation in Catholicism. However, she could not fully align herself with Catholic dogma and did not convert.

Her religious views after encountering Catholic thought remain shrouded in mystery, but her ideas influenced many thinkers.

Love and Death

Weil sometimes felt affection for male activists who shared her views, but it was different from romantic love. Her disheveled hair, lack of makeup, and emaciated, plain appearance worried those around her.

Her parents always watched over her, but she was stubborn and did not listen. She died of anorexia at the young age of 34.

Legacy

After her death, her parents spent over ten years compiling and publishing her writings, leaving her ideas to the world.

Supplement (from commentary)

・Simone Weil had many facets: thinker, philosopher, mystic, and political activist.

・Her ideas have influenced a wide range of fields, including politics, philosophy, and religion.

・Her works continue to be read and studied by many people today.

Although the writer Pearl S. Buck is American, she has an extremely detailed knowledge of China. I haven't read many female authors until now, but I've recently become interested in women's perspectives through their writing, and I've been actively reading their works.

My wife, who is the same age as me and will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary this year (three years from now), treats me like a peer. I'm sorry to say that, unlike when we first got married, she feels more like the mother of our children and my partner. However, since retiring, I've spent more time with my wife, and there are many women in the English conversation class I attend. Partly due to my childhood experiences, I've once again become interested in women's thoughts and perspectives.

Recently, I had the opportunity to listen to lectures by Tomiko Miyamoto and Toyoko Yamazaki online, and they made a strong impression on me. Tomiko Miyamoto is a repatriate from Manchuria, and she talked about being in a life-or-death situation where she had to decide whether to trade food for her young daughter. She somehow survived and, based on this experience, became a novelist while working as a housewife. She has a refined demeanor, but her father's job was as a brothel owner, and she has something hidden in her heart. I read her work a long time ago, and she was a writer who constantly questioned women's way of life.

Toyoko Yamazaki, the author of "Children of the Land," spoke with great intensity about the tragic experiences of the abandoned children in China and the Ministry of Health and Welfare's sloppy response to the repatriation project.

Recently, women have been remarkably active in various fields, and I'm overwhelmed by university professors who talk about the situation in Ukraine on TV and by conservative figures like Yoshiko Sakurai.

Regarding Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth," the author lived in China for 18 years, starting at the age of three months, when her missionary father took her there. She became more assimilated into Chinese culture than the Japanese people at that time. She continued to visit China frequently and also came to Japan. In any case, she is very knowledgeable about China and excels at depicting the psychology of Chinese men and women, and she is well versed in Eastern ways of thinking.

The trilogy is a long work of over 800 pages, but I found it very interesting. With a man as the protagonist, it spans three generations, depicting how he goes from being a poor tenant farmer to a wealthy landowner, and how his children and grandchildren become landlords, merchants, soldiers, and officials who have returned from studying in the United States. It portrays the Eastern human drama that unfolds with women on the stage of the earth.

At the end of the third part, "A House Divided," there is a passage that I particularly liked, and I'm wondering how to convey this emotion. It seems like it will be a long story, so I'll leave it for next time.

To be continued...

1. Peaceful: Free from war and conflict.

2. Compassionate: Where people readily help those in need.

3. Life-affirming: Where human life is highly valued.

4. Respectful: Where all people are treated with dignity.

5. Just: Where right is right, and wrong is wrong, and people are free to say so.

6. Tolerant: Where diverse opinions are respected.

7. Inclusive: Where discrimination is absent, and everyone is cared for.

8. Materially balanced: Where material wealth isn't the sole focus.

9. Healthy: Where citizens enjoy good physical and mental well-being.

10. Environmentally conscious: Where nature is valued and protected.

11. Industrious: Where people are diligent and strive for improvement.

12. Culturally rich: Where art and traditions are cherished.

13. Stable: Where people can live normal, predictable lives.

14. Nurturing: Where children can grow freely and safely.

15. Empowering: Where women can actively participate in all aspects of society.

16. Educated: Where learning is valued, and higher education is accessible.

17. Role-model driven: Where adults serve as positive examples for children.

18. Content: Where people are grateful and happy to be part of their country.

19. Community-minded: Where volunteerism is widespread.

20. Joyful: Where smiles and laughter are common.

1.   Erratic Leadership: Ruled by unpredictable and eccentric leaders.

2. Aggressive Foreign Policy: Engages in covert operations and seeks to dominate other nations.

3. Dishonest and Unreliable: Disregards international agreements and manipulates information for its own benefit.

4. Uncaring and Discriminatory: Disregards the well-being of its citizens and practices discrimination.

5. Victim-Playing: Focuses on past grievances and seeks sympathy rather than solutions.

6. Coercive: Uses threats, intimidation, and bribery to achieve its goals.

7. Belligerent: Prone to aggressive rhetoric and actions.

8. Slanderous: Where people spread misinformation and engage in character assassination.

9. Stuck in the Past: Clings to outdated notions of glory and resists progress.

10. Exploitative: Where individuals profit from charitable donations.

11. Abusive: Mistreats and oppresses its own people.

12. Conformist: Where "sontaku" (blindly following superiors' wishes) stifles independent thought.

13. Egocentric Leadership: Where leaders believe they single-handedly control the nation's destiny.

14. Corrupt: Where coups are instigated for financial gain.

15. Deceptive: Where leaders readily lie and deceive.

16. Militaristic: Quick to resort to military force.

17. Violent: Where human life is easily taken.

18. Inquisitive: Where pointless and time-wasting questions are asked.

19. Inconsistent: Where principles are easily abandoned.

20. Corporatocracy: Where private companies exert undue influence over the government.

   Last year, I reflected on my life. Perhaps it was influenced by the pandemic. Until now, I was satisfied with my life and thought it would be good if I could live peacefully. However, the pandemic changed my way of thinking. I was deeply impressed by the way of life of Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, who dedicated 33 years of his life to the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the past, I just thought of him as an eccentric person.

I wonder why?

   From this year on, I want to accomplish something instead of being buried in something.

Let me know if you'd like me to translate anything else!

　　The other day, I attended the memorial service for a deceased colleague. At the service, the monk chanted sutras and gave a sermon to the attendees. The content was about how "the luxury of food destroys people, luxury is not good." After that, a meal with the attendees began. The relatives prepared a sumptuous meal, and I watched closely to see if the monk would eat it. As expected, the monk began to eat with a smirk on his face. I couldn't help but laugh.

　In the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, there was a young monk who continued to pray with his hands clasped together in the disaster area while it was snowing. He asked himself, "What can I do?" and offered prayers for the deceased and the victims. This spirit has been rooted in the hearts of Japanese people since ancient times.

Last year, Dr. Nakamura, who was shot down by a gunman in Afghanistan, was more than just a Japanese person. He was also a Christian. I was reminded of the hidden Christians in Nagasaki, the Japanese people and Christians. During his lifetime, he said, "What saves a country is not weapons, but a shovel." His figure was truly life-threatening, and he was personally devoted to the people of Afghanistan.

　Greedy people believe that "the group exists for the individual." What is dangerous about them is Xi Jinping and Trump.

I also talked about the relationship between the individual and the group last time. The idea that the individual exists for the group is a Japanese way of thinking, but in the corona disaster, this self-sacrifice is leading to saving the country in a good way.

The Pain and Recovery of Life, and the Importance of Balance

  Life inevitably involves pain as well as joy. In difficult times, people try to heal their hearts in their own ways. Some think about fun things, others drink alcohol, go on dates with their lovers, or rely on their faith. These are all natural human functions to maintain the balance of the mind.

Imbalance of the Mind and Its Repair Mechanisms

  When a person's mental balance is disrupted, they try to repair it. The mind works to adjust the imbalance, and sometimes it can even harm the body. Excessive suffering can create the option of death to escape from it.

  However, death is never the solution. The important thing is to find balance in other ways. To do this, it is necessary to consciously incorporate enjoyable things. People who try to solve it in the wrong way can be said to be misjudging how to strike this balance.

Positive Thinking and Future Dreams

  If there are negative events, there are always positive events as well. If there are painful things, there are also fun things. In difficult times, you can maintain your mental balance by actively thinking about fun things and future dreams.

The Importance of Balance: Politics, Economy, and Life

  Maintaining the balance of the mind is very important in life. This concept of balance applies to various fields such as politics and economics. If you look at the movements of the world from the perspective of balance, you may discover new things.

Specific Ways to Achieve Balance

１. Engage in activities that you like and find         enjoyable. It is important to incorporate activities that refresh your mind, such as interacting with friends, hobbies, and travel.
2. Even in difficult times, be conscious of positive thinking. You can have hope by remembering past successes and thinking about future goals.
3. Healthy eating, sufficient sleep, and moderate exercise are essential for maintaining the balance of mind and body. If your mind and body are healthy, you will be more able to face negative emotions.
4. It is also effective to confide your worries to someone you trust or get their advice. It is important not to keep things to yourself, but to rely on people around you.
5. If you are unable to maintain your mental balance, you may need professional support. Consider consulting a psychiatrist or counselor and receiving appropriate advice and treatment.
Summary

  Life is not always smooth. Joy and sorrow, success and failure alternate. The important thing is to overcome the waves of life while maintaining the balance of your mind. The key to maintaining a healthy mental balance is to consciously incorporate enjoyable things, not be too caught up in negative emotions, and live positively.

 　Words are indispensable tools for us humans to think and communicate. However, there are many things in this world that cannot be fully expressed in words. For example, the emotion you feel when you see a beautiful landscape, the feeling of love for someone, or the anxieties and pains that cannot be put into words, are emotions and sensations that are deeply etched in our hearts but cannot be completely captured by words.

  Art is one way to express what cannot be expressed in words. Various forms of art, such as music, painting, sculpture, and theater, stir people's hearts and convey emotions and ideas that cannot be conveyed through words. When we are moved to tears by listening to music or feel at peace when looking at a painting, it is because art touches the depths of our hearts.

  By experiencing art, we can share emotions and sensations that cannot be expressed in words and deepen our empathy with others. Art also has the power to liberate our hearts and stimulate our creativity. By expressing emotions and sensations that cannot be expressed in words, we can deepen our self-understanding and live richer lives.

  Nature also gives us things that cannot be expressed in words. By placing ourselves in nature, such as majestic mountains, vast oceans, or quiet forests, we experience a sense of peace and wonder that cannot be put into words. The blessings of nature that we feel through our five senses, such as the sounds, light, scents, temperature, and textures of nature, heal our minds and bodies and help us regain harmony.

  Things that cannot be expressed in words are very important to us humans. By experiencing art and nature, we can experience emotions and sensations that cannot be expressed in words and cultivate a rich heart. Knowing the limits of words and cherishing what cannot be expressed in words is what leads to humanity, richness, and the joy of living.

The Drawbacks of Frequent Policy Changes

  Decisions made in the morning are often changed by the evening. This is a common sight in many companies in modern society.

The Acceleration of Change

  Fifty years ago, things moved at a slower pace than they do today. Management could establish long-term goals and pursue them steadily. However, since 30 years ago, it has become commonplace to change decisions quickly, moving forward while constantly gauging people's reactions. Under the recession after the collapse of the bubble economy, everyone had no choice but to be sensitive to economic trends. This is in stark contrast to the era before, when economic growth continued and it was easier to set long-term goals.

The Drawbacks of Financial Engineering and Social Media

  In the United States at that time, financial engineering accelerated. As engineers shifted to financial engineering due to the reduction in space development, money moved instantaneously, and the economy was swayed by it, intensifying the "swinging between joy and worry" of management. Furthermore, with the spread of social media and the proliferation of information, there is now fake news, and the situation has worsened, with even politicians using social media to spread such news. Indeed, the economy has lost its moderation, and every move is attracting attention.

Media and the Flood of Information

  In Japan, there is an old saying, "Even if a samurai is hungry, he acts as if he has eaten (Bushi ha kuwazu tomo taka youji)." It means that even if you are poor and cannot eat, you should pretend that you have eaten. The media tries to make a profit by selling information in an interesting way. Buyers are also hungry for information and are swayed by everything.

What is Truly Important in Life

  In life, are money and information truly valuable? I do not think so. What is important is how to live as a person.

Lately, as I've been studying English, I've started to compare the United States and Japan. In my previous column, I described how American rationalism developed due to historical circumstances. Because of the deceit of the medieval Catholic Church, Puritans emerged, especially in England, and many Puritans and Protestants crossed over to America, making it a country with advanced rationalism.

Rationalism means thinking and acting rationally without being bound by convention, and it can be said that rationalism is when the power of the individual is stronger than the group. Countries with a long history are more bound by tradition and convention, and they act in groups. In Europe, the Renaissance was born in opposition to Catholicism, where the individual was respected, and in recent years, influenced by the United States, this tendency has become stronger.

The United States is a nation of immigrants, with a diverse population of races and religions, and there are many people with different ways of thinking, making it inherently difficult to act in groups. However, in the past, when they had a common goal, they took collective action that was comparable to Japan. For example, in war. In World War II, they demonstrated remarkable power. The influence of racial discrimination was also significant in the exertion of this power, as they suppressed and excluded racially different people and took collective action.

That America is now fragmented. The rise of developing countries, especially China, and in the past, the rise of exhausted Europe and Japan, has diminished its national power. On top of that, the gathering of different races who have gained power lacks unity, and the class society that inevitably arises from individualism frequently creates violence for the sake of living, and it has become impossible to talk about etiquette.

Children grow up seeing the 모습 of their parents, and as a result, they grow up without even understanding the meaning of etiquette, and many unbelievable incidents are happening by these children from the Japanese point of view. America is now ailing.

　For postwar Japan, America was a country of admiration. Japan, which looked at America's back and chased after it, received a lot of influence from America in terms of lifestyle and culture, including entertainment. Also, they accepted individualism as a matter of course.

The United States is a country where individuals are respected, where they are not bound by ties, and where individuals can achieve great success. It is outstanding in every way, including culture, science, medicine, and economy. I am particularly impressed by the world of entertainment. They are good at making people happy. This is because the country is rich, and people from all over the world gather in search of wealth, and it is an active society where they work hard dreaming of success, truly the American Dream. This is a digression, but there are many actors whose acting is wonderful, realistic, and not artificial.

　What happens when this America takes collective action? Will they become small and lose their vitality? No, even if the country is divided by Democrats and Republicans, if they face a national crisis, they will have the same purpose and their collective action will become a great force.

　What is etiquette? In Japan, since ancient times, the individual existed for the sake of the group, and it was not like America where the group existed for the sake of the individual. In a small island nation with few resources and many disasters, they could not survive unless they acted in groups. Those who left the group were ostracized. In this way, rules were born in Japan, and the vertical relationships and consideration for others necessary for group action were passed down from parents to children, and this became etiquette and regulated people's behavior. During the war, it became a disadvantage, and postwar individualism destroyed etiquette, but in ancient times, there was a culture of "seppuku" and "shame" where people valued honor without changing their beliefs for the sake of living.

In America, what regulates individual behavior is religion and law. In a good or bad way, the unconventional America had vitality and has led the world.

Is there such a thing as a moral code at the national level? Let's take war as an example. People have fought wars for hegemony, whether to eat or be eaten. Even if there are treaties between nations in war, there is almost no moral code. There are all sorts of things: scheming, espionage, outrage, massacre. In the end, the winner becomes justice and judges the loser. In the first place, is there justice in war that kills people, and can the loser be judged for crimes against humanity? Normal people cannot kill. Nations brainwash their people and kill each other by portraying different ethnic groups and races as devils. War requires violent people who can commit murder without hesitation, and violence against children and women always occurs.

　Nations accuse each other of being inhumane and cannot resolve the situation. The spirit of self-sacrifice may ruin a nation in a nation. It may not be possible to talk about moral codes, but there are aggressive tyrants who confuse the world, who are aggressive both at home and abroad, and who have become more and more dangerous as they have been exposed by the coronavirus.

Japan before the war was terrible. Individuals were sacrificed and many people died needlessly. Moral codes created collectivism and created fascism. The current Japanese Constitution renounces war. The interpretation makes it constitutional to have the means for self-defense, but the Constitution restrains the country from going in the wrong direction. Japan is peaceful, and due to its national character, democratic politics are stable in many ways compared to other countries. However, if the world becomes unstable, Japan may also be confused.

China is acting recklessly to feed its 1.4 billion people, causing confusion around the world, and the United States is being swayed by it. China's ambition for hegemony has been expected for a long time, and the world's economic dependence on China has caused confusion. As developed countries try to catch up in a short period of time with what they have done over a long period of time, unreasonable demands have begun to stand out in the world, creating friction.

The story has not been put together and has gone astray, but if the leader is decent and the country is stable, groupism that values etiquette will function effectively, but its abuse will cause confusion. In countries with strong individualism, the country will not be united and will be confused and continue to be disordered. China is suppressing its people with strong power, but the United States is confused. It has become clear with the coronavirus.

Reflections on Western Civilization

Ancient civilizations are represented by the four major civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and China. These civilizations all developed through the development of agriculture in the fertile basins of major rivers, which led to a settled lifestyle.

The Mesopotamian civilization flourished in the Tigris-Euphrates river basin, but it was poor in mineral resources and mainly traded the grain it produced with China. Trade was conducted by land, using lunar and solar calendars, and knowledge of constellations deepened from the search for sea routes by stars. However, desertification due to deforestation progressed, and the number of nomads and residents of oasis cities increased, deepening their dependence on East-West trade. The Sogdians, nomadic people of the Middle East, gradually moved east, transmitting many cultural items to China, and settled in China during the Tang Dynasty, taking up official positions. It is highly probable that the compass, gunpowder, and printing technology were invented by the Sogdians.

In the Middle East, rulers frequently changed, but East-West exchange was active, and different civilizations intersected, fostering rich civilizations and cultures. Many of these were also transmitted to the West.

In Greece, in the Neolithic Age around 7000 BC, civilizations and cultures such as pottery were transmitted from West Asia, and the cultivation of grains such as barley and wheat, and the domestication of livestock such as goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, and dogs began. Northern Greece, blessed with water and fertile soil, became an advanced region, but the center of civilization soon shifted from the north to the south. Olives and grapes, the "three major crops of the Mediterranean," were suitable for cultivation in the hilly areas of southern Greece, and olive oil and wine had high value as trade goods, becoming important resources for Greece to trade with various parts of the Mediterranean.

During the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, Greece entered a dark age, and the developed Mycenaean civilization declined around 1200 BC. In the 8th century BC, city-states were born in various parts of Greece, and Homer's epic poem "The Iliad" became popular, serving as a basis for the national consciousness and ethical norms of the Greeks. People who lost in factional strife in the city-states moved to the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts with lax regulations, promoted colonization activities, and increased the number of free citizens.

In Greece, many civilizations and cultures were transmitted, people's exchanges became active, and the number of people with diverse ideas increased. The Greek freeman Socrates actively discussed with people about "what is a good deed?" This led to Plato's dialectic, which developed into a philosophy of examining the essence of things, and eventually the idea of rationality and causality spread to Europe.

In medieval Europe, they made huge profits from the Indian spice trade and entered the Age of Discovery. The navigation techniques were transmitted from the Middle East to Greece and Italy, and the compass is thought to have been invented by the Sogdians of China. In Europe, maritime trade became active centering on the Mediterranean Sea, and Spain, which became rich from gold mining in Africa, was unable to enjoy the benefits of Mediterranean trade after the exclusion of Islamic forces. In addition, in response to the blockade of the Mediterranean route by the Ottoman Empire, Spain aimed for Asia by going west, using Italian navigators and their navigation techniques. As a result, the American continent was discovered, and competition with Portugal began.

In Japan, technology was mainly transmitted from Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, and Japanese pirates and merchants traveled to trade in Macau and Luzon. However, navigation technology did not develop due to the subsequent national isolation policy of the Tokugawa shogunate.

In Europe, astronomical observation progressed due to improved navigation technology, and it was found that the earth was spherical from the shadow reflected on the moon. Newton discovered universal gravitation from the question, "Why does an apple fall to the round earth?" After that, scientific discoveries and analysis progressed, and the conflict with the dogmatic church (Catholic Church) deepened. Europe had limited fertile land, and farmers were impoverished by epidemics and crop failures, and they could not maintain their lives with the old teachings of the church. Eventually, knowledge spread to the people through Chinese printing technology and the Renaissance, and the deceptiveness of the church seeking profits became clear. Rationalism progressed through the Reformation by Luther, Protestantism was born, and a large-scale migration to America began due to the Puritan Revolution. The Catholic Jesuit order, feeling a sense of crisis in the expansion of Protestantism, aimed to gain believers in Asia and South America, and supported the colonial rule of merchants and the military with the cooperation of powerful people.

As a result of the discovery of the American continent, the Puritan Revolution, etc., poor farmers and Puritans (the current US Evangelical group) migrated to North America in large numbers, and the United States became the largest rationalist country. Furthermore, the United States experienced the Great Depression and wars, and has never been attacked domestically except for Pearl Harbor. After World War II, its own factories were in full operation due to support for Europe and Japan, and it gained enormous wealth, becoming the great power it is today.

How far does the universe extend? Is there a wall at the edge of the universe? This question never leaves my mind. If there is a wall, what lies beyond it? Science has developed based on the law of causality. In a world where there is nothing, or even something, beyond the wall, the law of causality does not hold. Is it the realm of God, beyond human comprehension? Human perception involves repeated cycles of seeing, communicating, comparing, and judging, with a beginning and an end. We cannot conceive of a world without a beginning or an end.

What is time? The movement of energy and light is what humans tentatively call time. It may be an instant from God's perspective. Both the beginning and the end may be an instant from God's perspective. What does it mean for something to exist? "Being" exists because there is "non-being," and existence can be understood. In this world, "non-being" and "being" coexist regardless of time. The beginning and the end coexist simultaneously.

The universe is filled with dark matter and dark energy in addition to atoms, and it is expanding at an incredible rate. The vast world beyond, where there is no energy or matter and light cannot reach, is not beyond the wall. It is a world of nothingness, not space. Space, like time, is something that humans have conceived. I believe this in order to understand the wall.

The Mystery of the Heart: A uniquely human function that AI lacks.

Unlike animals, the human heart possesses a will accompanied by thought, and the number and structure of the nerve cells that form its foundation are vastly different. The brain has 100 billion neurons forming a complex network, with each cell connected to thousands to tens of thousands of neurons, functioning as a massive information processing system.

This vast number of neurons constantly changes and forms complex circuits over a long lifespan that is beyond the reach of computers, efficiently processing vast amounts of information. This complex network is what supports the rich workings of the human heart.

Humans not only dream and have illusions, but also sometimes have delusions. Phenomena such as déjà vu, preconceptions, and imprints of past memories are also caused by the complexity of the brain and instincts. These phenomena can be said to be prominent features of the human brain, which has a brainstem.

The heart is closely connected to the body and cannot be separated. This unity of mind and body is the reason why humans have a heart, which AI lacks, and sometimes exhibits mysterious movements, as if affirming the existence of God.

Elements that characterize the human heart

Thought and Will: Humans are capable of thinking and acting on their own will, rather than simply reacting to stimuli.

Complex Neural Network: The complex network of 100 billion neurons enables advanced information processing and generates rich emotions and thoughts.

Plasticity: The brain can continue to change throughout life, forming new circuits through experience and learning.

Consciousness and Self-Awareness: Humans can recognize themselves and have consciousness.

Emotions: Various emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure have a great influence on human behavior and decision-making.

Creativity: Humans can create new things.

Sociability: Humans can communicate with others and cooperate.

Differences between AI and Humans

AI can process large amounts of data at high speed, but it cannot have the complex functions of the human heart. AI lacks uniquely human elements such as consciousness, emotions, creativity, and sociability, so it is difficult to replace humans.

The Mystery of the Heart

The workings of the heart are still shrouded in many mysteries. As research in brain science progresses, the mechanisms of the heart are gradually being elucidated, but many parts of complex phenomena such as consciousness and emotions remain unexplained.

In conclusion

The heart is the most important thing for humans and enriches our lives. Exploring the mystery and depth of the heart is very important for understanding ourselves.

     The Japanese language is rich in vocabulary, allowing for nuanced expressions of subtle colors. The kanji culture, originating in China, was introduced to Japan via the Korean Peninsula. However, at that time, the Japanese people did not understand the meaning of kanji as ideograms. It was probably through exchanges with the Korean Peninsula, along with Buddhism, that they learned the ideograms. The abundant kanji culture, along with the development of the Japanese nation, spread with the arrival of the Baekje people who fled their collapsing kingdom. Today, China and Korea have shifted to simplified characters and the Hangul alphabet, respectively, which may have resulted in a loss of richness in expression.

   For us ordinary people, it is questionable whether the lack of richness in words and characters is significant enough to affect our lives. However, while Westerners express themselves with a clear "YES or NO," the Japanese have moderate expressions, such as the ambiguous "ee, maa" (well, sort of) and the word "kibi," which expresses subtle emotional nuances. There is also the expression "to touch the folds of a person's heart." Whether the other person understands the speaker's intentions and judges the situation appropriately is a separate matter.

   People sometimes reach a dead end or worry, and when thoughts and considerations cannot be fully expressed in words, they manifest as emotions. If words had no "ambiguity" and could express "kibi" in concrete terms, there would be little to worry about.

  Philosophical books are sometimes so verbose that they are baffling, and there are many things that I cannot understand. Experts may understand them. They probably interpret ambiguous expressions in their own way.

   In order to understand, people analyze phenomena, categorize them by color, and define them. They also sometimes group detailed phenomena together for analysis. People with rich expressive power do not categorize or group things together; rather, they are indifferent to the details of the phenomena, even if they understand them. People who cannot remain indifferent may be somewhat dangerous.      "Understanding phenomena with the vocabulary of words" varies depending on individual ways of thinking, making mutual understanding difficult. The same is true on a national level.

   Why has natural science developed so far and given so much benefit to mankind? Is it because the expression of words has become richer and mutual understanding has deepened? No. It is because scientific phenomena are expressed not in words but in mathematical formulas. Even if the expression of words degenerates, the development of science does not stop.

   When we are children, we learn the concept of "number" with digits, and as we progress through school, we learn continuity using symbols. People can understand discontinuity, but they cannot understand continuity. We can understand "not being" because there "is" something. We cannot understand either one alone forever. Mathematics can express the eternal "being" and "non-being." "Nothingness" = "0" (zero) will never become "1" forever. Even imaginary numbers, which we learn in high school, cannot be understood, but the world of imaginary numbers is expressed in numbers and symbols. Special relativity theory and the distortion of space-time are incomprehensible to ordinary people, but they can be expressed in mathematical formulas. Physicists are geniuses and brilliant people, so they understand them. Ordinary people understand them not by reason but by definition.

   I wrote earlier that we can only understand with discontinuity, but cause and effect, beginning and end, existence and nothingness are all discontinuous, and we understand them. Space can be recognized because there are things that exist. If there were no existing things, space would be nothingness. Beyond the wall at the edge of the universe, there is nothing that exists, so it is nothingness. People recognize nothingness as space.

   To get back to the point, even phenomena that ordinary people cannot understand can be expressed in mathematical formulas. Science has developed through mathematical expression. However, God understands the eternal "being" and "non-being." He lives in a world beyond human knowledge.

    I am an atheist, yet I am interested in religion.  Christianity, which I encountered during my student days, holds a particular fascination for me.

   Why am I an atheist?  My father's influence played a part, but ultimately, I find it difficult to entrust my life to something beyond myself.

   Many major historical events involving religion, particularly across various faiths, have centered around war.  The religions of the past, with their intolerance of heresy, were truly... religious?  This raises questions.  We also cannot ignore the Catholic Church's scandals and the persistence of secularized religion within closed communities.  The Middle Ages saw religious reforms and the Puritan Revolution, with immigrants seeking freedom from the constraints of Catholicism in the United States and elsewhere.  Religion at that time often served as a tool for governance and profit.

    While concepts like ethics and morality exist, in Europe and America, the belief in inherent human sinfulness led to the establishment of religion as a guiding norm.  People participated in religious ceremonies, listened to the priest's sermons, and adhered to the language of the Bible in their daily lives.  Though Westerners might disagree, Christianity remains the world's largest religion, deeply rooted in their daily lives, influencing their actions, much like Japanese people's unconscious connection to Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. I appreciate the novels of Shusaku Endo, and "Silence" is a particular favorite.  Endo, a Catholic himself, explores his doubts about the faith in his writing.  My interpretation is that Christianity is paternalistic, something given by God, rather than something we actively seek.

    In Japan, Christianity faced severe persecution. Were the believers truly saved?  After sacrificing their lives to maintain their faith, they were later celebrated by the world and used to promote Catholicism.  Endo's novel questions whether God's inaction towards the oppressed peasants, simply because they suffered, equates to salvation through religious ceremonies.

   The central theme of the novel is "silence."  At the climax, God's voice whispers to the protagonist, Father Rodrigues, "I am not silent. I suffer with you."  Through this image of a maternal God, Endo expresses his own yearning for a different kind of Christianity: "I am on your side, suffering and rejoicing with you."  This resonates deeply with me.

    I've been spending more time at home due to the pandemic, and I've been indulging in reading. I've started to pick up masterpieces that I never would have touched before, and recently I finished reading "An'ya Kōro" (A Dark Night's Passing) by Naoya Shiga. It's a story that depicts the inner turmoil of a human being, with the protagonist reflecting himself.

   In my company employee days, I had no interest in personal novels at all, and I only read practical books, war stories, and Seicho Matsumoto's works. However, as I get older, I have more opportunities to look back on the past, and I began to think that my life was full of failures. Age and times have an influence, and I have more opportunities to look back on myself.

   Before the pandemic, when I had free time, I often went out alone without thinking about anything, but the pandemic made me start reading personal novels that I had avoided until then. I was deeply moved by the climax of "An'ya Kōro", the last scene. I was a little surprised to find myself, who is getting older, being moved by an old personal novel.

   The story closes with a scene where the wife, who was raped by her close cousin without resistance and felt a distance from her husband who knew everything, was struck by her husband's gentle sleeping face as he lay ill, and decided, "I will follow this person for the rest of my life." It seems that it took seven years to complete this novel. It seems that Naoya Shiga himself had struggles while writing it, and this ending can be said to be a conclusion to his own life.

   I am not attracted to Rolex watches now, and I feel that a mini car is enough for a car.