Think Rationally but Feel Spiritually A Nihilistic Dualism in Modern Japan

Abstract

In this paper, I would like to deal with “nihilistic dualismâ€. I will first clarify what “nihilistic dualism†is according to Nietzsche (§1). Then, I will introduce its appearance in Japan in modern times (§2) and then its appearance in contemporary Japan (§3). With regard to the former (that is, modern Japanese nihilism), I will discuss a split in Japan between tradition and modernization as seen through Karl Löwith’s eyes. With regard to the latter, I would like to discuss the religious self-understanding called “non-religious†in contemporary Japan.