Hwang Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Bourgeois Liberalism

The Betrayal of the East Asian Enlightenment
1. Auflage 2019
ISBN: 978-3-030-21530-9
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 176 Seiten, eBook

Reihe: Progress in Mathematics

Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Bourgeois Liberalism  introduces readers to the East Asian Enlightenment led by Fukuzawa Yukichi, one of the most important figures in the intellectual history of modern Japan. Despite his impact on political theory and modern Japanese history, Fukuzawa remains under-researched in Western academia, and while a few English-language books have been written about Fukuzawa, none have dealt with his political theory. This book describes Fukuzawa as a character with universal relevance and a unique view of the Enlightenment tradition. Emphasizing the power of bourgeois liberalism and the debate regarding its potential for transforming the strict class-caste society of Tokugawa Japan, Hwang discusses Fukuzawa's belief in the significance of individual autonomy, progress, and liberal rule of law in developing his project of the East Asian enlightenment, as well as his supposed “betrayal” of his early commitments due to his existential desire for Western recognition of Japan’s greatness. The book ends with an analysis of the complex relation between liberalism and progress in the East Asian context.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hwang, Minhyuk

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction.- 2. Social Background: Fukuzawa Yukichi and the Transformation of Japan.- 3. Learning to Reason: An Encouragement of Learning (Gakumon no susume).- 4. Progress for National Autonomy: An Outline of a Theory of Civilization (Bunmeiron no gairyaku).- 5. Existential Turn: Seeking National Recognition.- 6. Conclusion.

Über Autor(innen)

Minhyuk Hwang  is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Rutgers University, USA.