Hermitix The Work of Keiji Nishitani with Joseph Turner
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Jul 9, 2025 Joseph Turner, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, dives into Keiji Nishitani's exploration of emptiness and nihilism, comparing Eastern and Western philosophical traditions. He discusses how Nishitani redefines emptiness as a space for relational interconnectedness and the importance of 'great doubt' in questioning existence. The conversation also touches on the implications of collective understanding over individualism, the intersections of compassion and action, and critiques of traditional political structures, advocating for a compassionate political ontology.
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Nishitani's Unique Take on Nihilism
- Nishitani addresses nihilism as a core issue in modern Western society, contrasting relative nihilism with boundless emptiness (sunyata).
- His philosophy reframes emptiness not as negation but as a process-oriented field of interconnectedness and potential.
Turner's Personal Journey to Nishitani
- Joseph Turner first encountered Nishitani through Nietzsche and Baudrillard, seeking new approaches to nihilism.
- Nishitani's work profoundly shifted his thinking and led him to dive into Kyoto School philosophy.
From Relative Nihility to Absolute Emptiness
- Nishitani distinguishes between relative nihilism causing despair and absolute emptiness as a shared ground of existence.
- Absolute emptiness neutralizes subject-object distinctions, revealing interconnectedness beyond conflict and loneliness.
