Kitaro Nishida is counted among the most original philosophers of modern Japan. He grappled with western philosophy and was most interested in Leibniz's thought. The following contribution is an attempt to illuminate the relationship Leibniz — Nishida through a perspective which is of greatest importance with respect to our existence: the question concerning the true self. Here I try to show how both, notwithstanding different points of departure and grave differences, did in fact gain common ground as regards freedom and (...) transcendence of the ego and, for example, the insight into religion which they obtain from the question of self. (shrink)

By what process of development he came to this opinion, though in itself an important and interesting question, is logically irrelevant to the inquiry how far the opinion itself is correct ; and among his opinions, when these have been ascertained, it becomes desirable to prune away such as seem inconsistent with his main doctrines, before those doctrines themselves are subjected to a critical scrutiny. Philosophic truth and falsehood, in short, rather than historical fact, are what primarily demand our attention (...) in this inquiry. (shrink)

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