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Sadler's Lectures

Nishitani Keiji, The Self-Overcoming Of Nihilism - Nihilism And The Problem Of The Self

Jun 23, 2024
Delve into the fascinating insights of Nishitani Keiji, who explores the complex relationship between nihilism and the self. He unpacks the notion of a bifurcated self—one that observes and questions, while the other is subject to observation. This duality presents a fundamental problem that calls for resolution through passionate thinking and genuine existence. The lecture encourages listeners to engage deeply with nihilism and re-evaluate their own understanding of selfhood.
14:58

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Quick takeaways

  • Nishitani Keiji emphasizes that nihilism must be understood through the individual's subjective experience rather than as a detached societal issue.
  • The philosopher advocates for an existentialist approach to confront personal nihilism, urging passionate engagement with one's authentic self.

Deep dives

Understanding Nihilism

Nishitani emphasizes that nihilism is a significant issue in contemporary thought, particularly following the post-war era. He argues that to truly grasp nihilism, one must evaluate it through the lens of the self rather than viewing it as a detached social phenomenon. This approach requires an acknowledgment that the essence of nihilism becomes problematic when the self starts questioning its own existence. By stressing that nihilism is fundamentally tied to personal experience, Nishitani forefronts the necessity of approaching the concept from an individual standpoint that is subjective rather than objective.

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