The Philosophical Association of Japan seeks to promote the study of philosophy and active interaction among researchers from philosophy, working as a forum to discuss on research, education and the role of philosophy in the modern world.
History of the Philosophical Association of Japan (PAJ)
In 1874 NISHI Amane (1829-1897), who had studied social sciences and philosophy from 1863 to 1865 at the University of Leiden/the Netherlands, first translated the word “philosophy” with the Japanese term “tetsugaku.” This term, written in Chinese characters, was widely adopted in East Asia. This new term penetrated naturally into Japanese society and gradually came to play an important role in the development of humanities during half a century. In 1949, the Philosophical Association of Japan was founded by Japanese philosophers, and AMANO Teiyū (1884-1980) was elected its first president. Beginning in 1952, especially through the efforts of the presidents AMANO, IDE Takashi (1892-1980), SHIMOMURA Toratarō (1902-1995), MUTAI Risaku (1880- 1974), WATSUJI Tetsurō (1889-1960), the journal『哲學』PHILOSOPHY (Tetsugaku): Annual Review of the Philosophical Association of Japan(mainly in Japanese) was published with the primary purpose of offering occasions for the exchange of opinions and information about research in philosophy inside and outside of Japan. Since then, the journal has been published annually, with its most recent, Volume 69, published in April of 2018. The members of our Association number about 1,400 at present, and we focus mainly on western philosophy from ancient to contemporary, from theoretical to practical, from the philosophy of science to applied philosophy as well as Japanese modern philosophy.
(Quoted from the Statement of KATO Yasushi, President of the Philosophical Association of Japan, with some modifications; https://philosophy-japan.org/en/international_journal/about-us/)
Activities of the PAJ
The PAJ mainly engages in the following four activities.
(1) Annual Conference
(2) Publications
(3) PAJ Working groups
(4) The Award and Grants
Contact Us
The Philosophical Association of Japan
Department of Philosophy
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Waseda University
1-24-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8644
Email: nittetu@philosophy-japan.org
History of the Philosophical Association of Japan (PAJ)
In 1874 NISHI Amane (1829-1897), who had studied social sciences and philosophy from 1863 to 1865 at the University of Leiden/the Netherlands, first translated the word “philosophy” with the Japanese term “tetsugaku.” This term, written in Chinese characters, was widely adopted in East Asia. This new term penetrated naturally into Japanese society and gradually came to play an important role in the development of humanities during half a century. In 1949, the Philosophical Association of Japan was founded by Japanese philosophers, and AMANO Teiyū (1884-1980) was elected its first president. Beginning in 1952, especially through the efforts of the presidents AMANO, IDE Takashi (1892-1980), SHIMOMURA Toratarō (1902-1995), MUTAI Risaku (1880- 1974), WATSUJI Tetsurō (1889-1960), the journal『哲學』PHILOSOPHY (Tetsugaku): Annual Review of the Philosophical Association of Japan(mainly in Japanese) was published with the primary purpose of offering occasions for the exchange of opinions and information about research in philosophy inside and outside of Japan. Since then, the journal has been published annually, with its most recent, Volume 69, published in April of 2018. The members of our Association number about 1,400 at present, and we focus mainly on western philosophy from ancient to contemporary, from theoretical to practical, from the philosophy of science to applied philosophy as well as Japanese modern philosophy.
(Quoted from the Statement of KATO Yasushi, President of the Philosophical Association of Japan, with some modifications; https://philosophy-japan.org/en/international_journal/about-us/)
Activities of the PAJ
The PAJ mainly engages in the following four activities.
(1) Annual Conference
The PAJ organizes a three-day annual conference consisting of oral presentations, General
Symposium (GS), Societies Symposium (SS), International Sessions, joint research workshops,
PAJ Working group workshops, and the General Assembly. Most recently, the 77 th annual
conference was held on May 18-20, 2018 at Kobe University. The PAJ symposia—GS and
SS—have thus far discussed various topics of philosophy, including:
2018
2017
2016
2015
2018
AI and the Philosophy of Robots (GS), What is Life? (SS)
2017
What Philosophical Significance Does Research in History of Philosophy Have Today?
(GS), Religion and Philosophy (SS)
2016
Political Responsibility of Philosophy—Heidegger and the Kyoto School (GS)
Science, Society and Research Integrity (SS)
2015
Care—To Live Together (GS), Liberal Education, Past and Future (SS)
(2) Publications
The PAJ publishes three different types of journal every year:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(i)
The Association’s journal 『哲學』(Philosophy (Tetsugaku): Annual Review of the
Philosophical Association of Japan)
『哲學』No. 69 was published in April, 2018.
(ii)
The Association’s international journal: Tetsugaku: International Journal of the
Philosophical Association of Japan (online publication)
Tetsugaku Vol. 1, 2017; Special Theme: Philosophy and the University
Tetsugaku Vol. 2, 2018; Special Theme: Philosophy and Translation
Call for papers Tetsugaku Vol. 3, 2019 Spring; Special Theme: “Japanese Philosophy” For Guidelines for Contributors to Tetsugaku: International Journal,
Philosophical Association of Japan (online publication)
Tetsugaku Vol. 1, 2017; Special Theme: Philosophy and the University
Tetsugaku Vol. 2, 2018; Special Theme: Philosophy and Translation
Call for papers Tetsugaku Vol. 3, 2019 Spring; Special Theme: “Japanese Philosophy” For Guidelines for Contributors to Tetsugaku: International Journal,
(iii)
The Association’s internet journal 『哲学の門：大学院生研究論集』(The Gate of
Philosophy: Journal for Graduate Students)
(3) PAJ Working groups
The PAJ currently organizes three WGs concerning (i) gender equality and support for young
philosophers, (ii) education of philosophy, and (iii) international exchange.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(i)
PAJ Working group on gender equality and support for young philosophers was
established in May 2012, based on the activities of the WG on promotion of gender
equality for one year from 2005. The WG is working on various activities with the aim
of improving the status of women and other genders in PAJ and supporting young
philosophers in Japan. Regarding gender equality, the WG is investigating the current
situation of gender balance in PAJ and Japanese philosophical fomunity, pointing out
problems and proposing improvement plan. To support young researchers in Japan, the
WG is providing opportunities to improve their skills for writing scholarly articles and
application forms, educating in classes, facilitating. The WG is also in charge of
networking events for graduate students. This WG works in cooperation with GEAHSS,
interdisciplinary interest group in gender equality under Science Council of Japan.
(ii)
PAJ Working group on philosophy education is meant to promote philosophy education
in the contemporary Japanese society. It has been holding regular annual “Workshops
for Philosophy Education,” which has been open to the public. Though the topics of the
workshops are wide-ranging, the topic most frequently taken up so far is philosophy
education in senior high schools. This is natural, considering the fact that “Ethics”
taught in high schools is the only “philosophical” subject taught in primary and
secondary education in Japan. In the workshop of 2018, the high school subject
“Citizenship,” which is to be introduced in 2020, was taken up. Other topics are
philosophy education in universities, elementary schools and junior high schools, and
philosophical dialogue among citizens.
(iii)
PAJ Working group on international exchange is meant to be a dynamo to
internationalize the association and Japanese philosophical landscape furthermore. It
organizes various academic occasions in which both oversea and domestic philosophers
jointly engage in philosophical discussions such as International Sessions in PAJ’s
annual conferences and panels of the World Congress of Philosophy. The working
group is also keen to establish a platform of international exchange among philosophers
in Asia. For instance, it has been co-organizing with the Institute of Philosophy,
Chinese academy of Social Sciences and other philosophical institutions in China a
triennial conference series; Japan China Philosophy Forum, since 2006.
(4) The Award and Grants
The PAJ has established the PAJ Young Researcher Award and the Hayashi Foundation Grants
for Young Researchers in order to encourage young scholars and to develop philosophical
researches in Japan.
(i)
(ii)
(i)
The PAJ Young Researcher Award is awarded annually to the young author of the best
paper of the papers published in the latest issues of 『哲學』and Tetsugaku.
(ii)
The Hayashi Foundation Grants for Young Researchers are given annually to all the
candidates of the PAJ Junior Researcher Award.
Contact Us
The Philosophical Association of Japan
Department of Philosophy
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Waseda University
1-24-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8644
Email: nittetu@philosophy-japan.org
-
On the Project of Hosting the 26th World Congress of Philosophy (WCP 2028) in TokyoThe Japanese Federation of Philosophical Societies (JFPS) has decided to launch its bid for hosting the 26th World Congress of Philosophy (WCP 2028) in Tokyo. JFPS consists of, in addition to the Japanese Philosophical Association (JPA), the following five academic societies: the Japanese Society for Ethics, the Japanese Society for Aesthetics, Japanese Association for Religious Studies, and the Japanese Association of Indian and Buddhist Studies, and the Sinological Society of Japan.
-
Statement from the Philosophical Association of Japan of a new international journal, Tetsugaku: International Journal of the Philosophical Association of JapanWe are experiencing today the worldwide phenomena of crises in both the humanities and the social sciences, crises to which Japan is also subject. In the face of this situation, we have decided to launch an international journal issued annually on its own website in the hope of meeting these crises through a new solidarity with philosophers and philosophical associations overseas as well as sharing our studies in philosophy worldwide.
CONTENTS
- Regarding CFP Announcement for Journal of Cognitive Science (JCS)
- 2024年度 評議員選挙/理事・会計監査選挙 開催日程のご案内
- 第84回大会(2025年) 立正大学
- 2024年夏の会員連絡について
- 「ギリシア哲学講演会：Chloe Balla教授」開催（11月6日・東京）
- 第５回金沢大学国際賞授賞式・記念講演会
- シンポジウム “Emersonian perfectionism and the tragic sense”（京都大学、11月30日）開催のお知らせ
- 富山大学 哲学分野の専任教員公募（女性限定）のお知らせ
- 北海道大学大学院文学研究院 哲学倫理学研究室の准教授又は講師の公募
- 富山大学での哲学分野の専任教員公募（女性限定）のお知らせ
- 第26回WCP（世界哲学会議）大会の日本・東京開催について
- 横浜国立大学教育学部 哲学・倫理学の助教公募のお知らせ
- 京都大学・倫理学・准教授又は講師公募のお知らせ
- 新潟大学人文学部 道徳哲学の専任教員公募のお知らせ（8/19〆切）
- 名古屋大学大学院人文学研究科哲学分野 准教授公募のお知らせ
- On the Project of Hosting the 26th World Congress of Philosophy (WCP 2028) in Tokyo
- 世界哲学会議招致活動パンフレットについて
- 九州産業大学 専任教員の公募【フランスの思想・文化（哲学・歴史・文学など）】
- 桜美林大学での応用倫理学分野の専任教員公募のお知らせ
- ★２０２４年度「NHKアーカイブス学術利用」公募開始