In the 20th century, Japanese philosophers active at the University of Kyoto combined a Western approach to ‘doing’ philosophy with their own native concepts and ideas. There arose a Kyoto School, in which, of all things, ‘nothingness’ was a central concept.

Nothingness in the West usually has a negative connotation. It’s empty, meaningless, scary, and generally not something we like to think about. Not so for the Kyoto school. In their context, nothingness and emptiness take on a much deeper and balanced meaning. And not just intellectually, but experientially; it’s something everyone can experience.

In fact, over the past two years of covid lockdowns and quarantines, you yourself may have experienced more “nothingness” than you’d bargained for. What can Japanese philosophy teach you about these moments and their deeper meaning?

Fréderique Petit is an independent philosopher, political scientist, psychologist, and teacher, giving lectures and workshops for a variety of organisations and government institutions such as the Vrije Academie, NRC Academie and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, as well as private citizens and several universities in addition to the TU Delft.

Watch part 1 of her lecture here: https://youtu.be/TZimUxi3tWE

SG’s GLOBAL PHILOSOPHIES LECTURE SERIES

Who am I? What is a good life? And how do you build a just society? Philosophy asks the big questions in life, but the answers of course are diverse. In the West we look to different thinkers and theories than in the East or the South. What else is there beyond Plato and Nietzsche? Studium Generale will introduce you to a series of different philosophical traditions from China, India, Africa, and the Americas. An acquaintance with other ways of thinking, but also with believing, seeing, and feeling, through philosophy, poetry, theatre, music, and other forms of art.

00:00 Intro
01:18 The meaning of nothingness
07:33 Zen Buddhism
13:02 Koans
19:24 Tetsugaku, engaged knowing
25:25 the Kyoto School
42:15 Conclusions
43:24 Q&A

www.sg.tudelft.nl