Tomonubu Imamichi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese philosopher, who studied Chinese philosophy
and has taught in Europe (Paris and Germany) as well as in Japan (he is also emeritus professor of the University of Palermo
). Since 1979 he has been president of the Centre International pour l'Étude Comparée de Philosophie et d'Esthétique and since 1997 of the International Institute of Philosophy. In 1976 he founded the journal Aesthetics.
He translated Aristotle
's Poetics into Japanese (in 1972) and has written numerous books in Japanese. Imamichi is a supporter of communication between cultures
. He has characterized Western philosophy
as an attempt to achieve a God's eye view (das in-dem-Gott-sein; to be in the being of God) and Eastern philosophy
as an attempt to be in the world (das In-der-Welt-sein). Imamichi sees in both stances two incomplete and complementary humanism
s, and observes that since the publication of The Book of Tea
, some Western philosophers have adopted a more Eastern stance while other Eastern philosophers have attempted to reach the Absolute or the Eternal.
According to him, Heidegger's concept of the Dasein
, formulated in Sein und Zeit, was inspired — although Heidegger remains silent on this — by Okakura Kakuzo
's concept of das In-der-Welt-sein (to be in the being of the world) expressed in The Book of Tea
in an attempt to describe Zhuangzi
's philosophy for Westerners. Imamichi's teacher had offered the German translation of The Book of Tea to Heidegger in 1919, after having followed lessons with him the year before.
In 1968, Imamichi was invited by Hans-Georg Gadamer
, a student of Heidegger, for lectures at Heidelberg
, but their relationship became very cool after Imamichi pointed out that Heidegger had not given the source of his concept of the Dasein. Imamichi and Gadamer renewed contact four years later during an international congress.
Tomonubu Imamichi is the father of Japanese guitarist and songwriter, Tomotaka Imamichi
.
Chinese philosophy
Chinese philosophy is philosophy written in the Chinese tradition of thought. The majority of traditional Chinese philosophy originates in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States era, during a period known as the "Hundred Schools of Thought", which was characterized by significant intellectual and...
and has taught in Europe (Paris and Germany) as well as in Japan (he is also emeritus professor of the University of Palermo
University of Palermo
The University of Palermo is a university located in Palermo, Italy, and founded in 1806. It is organized in 12 Faculties.-History:The University of Palermo was officially founded in 1806, although its earliest roots date back to 1498 when medicine and law were taught there...
). Since 1979 he has been president of the Centre International pour l'Étude Comparée de Philosophie et d'Esthétique and since 1997 of the International Institute of Philosophy. In 1976 he founded the journal Aesthetics.
He translated Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
's Poetics into Japanese (in 1972) and has written numerous books in Japanese. Imamichi is a supporter of communication between cultures
Transculturation
Transculturation is a term coined by Cuban anthropologist Fernando Ortiz in 1940 to describe the phenomenon of merging and converging cultures....
. He has characterized Western philosophy
Western philosophy
Western philosophy is the philosophical thought and work of the Western or Occidental world, as distinct from Eastern or Oriental philosophies and the varieties of indigenous philosophies....
as an attempt to achieve a God's eye view (das in-dem-Gott-sein; to be in the being of God) and Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy includes the various philosophies of Asia, including Chinese philosophy, Iranian philosophy, Japanese philosophy, Indian philosophy and Korean philosophy...
as an attempt to be in the world (das In-der-Welt-sein). Imamichi sees in both stances two incomplete and complementary humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
s, and observes that since the publication of The Book of Tea
The Book of Tea
The Book of Tea The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzō , is a long essay linking the role of tea to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of Japanese life....
, some Western philosophers have adopted a more Eastern stance while other Eastern philosophers have attempted to reach the Absolute or the Eternal.
According to him, Heidegger's concept of the Dasein
Dasein
Dasein is a German word famously used by Martin Heidegger in his magnum opus Being and Time, which generally translates to being in its ontological and philosophical sense Dasein is a German word famously used by Martin Heidegger in his magnum opus Being and Time, which generally translates to...
, formulated in Sein und Zeit, was inspired — although Heidegger remains silent on this — by Okakura Kakuzo
Okakura Kakuzo
was a Japanese scholar who contributed to the development of arts in Japan. Outside of Japan, he is chiefly remembered today as the author of The Book of Tea.-Biography:...
's concept of das In-der-Welt-sein (to be in the being of the world) expressed in The Book of Tea
The Book of Tea
The Book of Tea The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzō , is a long essay linking the role of tea to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of Japanese life....
in an attempt to describe Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BCE during the Warring States Period, a period corresponding to the philosophical summit of Chinese thought — the Hundred Schools of Thought, and is credited with writing—in part or in whole—a work known by his name,...
's philosophy for Westerners. Imamichi's teacher had offered the German translation of The Book of Tea to Heidegger in 1919, after having followed lessons with him the year before.
In 1968, Imamichi was invited by Hans-Georg Gadamer
Hans-Georg Gadamer
Hans-Georg Gadamer was a German philosopher of the continental tradition, best known for his 1960 magnum opus, Truth and Method .-Life:...
, a student of Heidegger, for lectures at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, but their relationship became very cool after Imamichi pointed out that Heidegger had not given the source of his concept of the Dasein. Imamichi and Gadamer renewed contact four years later during an international congress.
Tomonubu Imamichi is the father of Japanese guitarist and songwriter, Tomotaka Imamichi
Tomotaka Imamichi
, is a Japanese music producer, guitarist and songwriter from Tokyo, Japan. He first became active in the Japanese rock scene in 1984 as the guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock band, the Barbee Boys.-1980s:...
.