Japanese Philosophy: The Political Philosophy of Maruyama Masao

Course Description: In this class, we introduce Japanese political philosopher, Maruyama Masao. We will read his famous essays in a collection entitled Thought and Behavior in Modern Japanese Politics. Before delving into his work, we will have a short introduction on Japanese philosophy. In particular, we will discuss Japan’s political philosophical tradition starting with their general history as well as the works of the Kyoto School and other more contemporary philosophers.