open access

https://doi.org/10.14943/b.edu.142.85

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/90077

The Vitalism of the member of Kyouiku-no-seikisha

日本語

Life-state

2023-06-26

Faculty of Education, Hokkaido University

Bulletin of Faculty of Education, Hokkaido University

142

85-107

This paper focuses on Akai Yonekichi (1887-1974), Shigaki Hiroshi (1889-1965), and Nomura Yoshibe (1896-1986), educational theorists who were active in Kyouiku-no-seikisya, and examines their discourses of life. While previous studies have accumulated a certain amount of research on the Taisho period, little has been known about the early Showa period. In this paper, we focus on the "life" philosophy of Akai, Shigaki, and Nomura, questioning its origin and examining their thoughts from the Taisho to the early Showa periods. The analysis revealed that Akai, Shigaki, and Nomura were inspired by R. W. Emerson, H. Bergson, and Shinran, respectively, to construct their own "life" ideology and preach an individualistic and liberal theory of education in the Taisho period. In their view, "life" was a symbol of educational ideals and signified anti-modern, anti-Western civilization. However, their concept of "life" changed in the early Showa period with the experience of the crisis of the Depression around 1930. In their view, "life" was transformed into something that manifested itself in the real world as a "Life-state" centering on the emperor. Their theory of Life-state was a theory of the nation that rejected the principles of the modern nation-state, such as the rule of law and parliamentarism, and regarded totalitarianism as the principle of Japan. Thus, their educational theory became nationalistic and totalitarian, supporting and inspiring the construction of a Life-state. When "life," which should be respected, becomes identified with the nation state, Life-state regards individual life as a "cell" and exerts its power of life and death.

紀要論文

Version of Record

1882-1669

AA12219452