Philosophy and Society: Desire and Decay in Japanese Philosophy and Beyond

About

Join us for an engaging five-day summer school at the University of Antwerp, where you will delve into the significant themes of mortality, desire, and decay within Japanese ethics and aesthetics. This intensive programme combines philosophical inquiry with insights from literature and contemporary art, enabling participants to explore how these concepts impact ethical thought and aesthetic expression in both Japanese and Western cultures.

Key themes include an introduction to impermanence and decay in Japanese thought, intersections with process philosophy, and the cultural implications of kawaii (cuteness) alongside the exploration of Shinto perspectives and contemporary artistic representations. Guest lecturers will share their expertise, enhancing discussions through interdisciplinary case studies and interactive seminars. By the end of the course, you will gain an understanding of how Japanese philosophical traditions address the complexities of life, death, and the human experience.

Course leader

Kristien Hens

Target group

The summer school is designed for PhD students and Master students with a background in philosophy, arts or similar.

Participants should have some educational background in philosophy. Experience in Japanese philosophy is not required.

Course aim

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of key concepts in Japanese ethics and aesthetics related to impermanence, desire, and decay (e.g., mujo, mono no aware, kawaii)
Describe and contextualise major philosophical contributions of selected Japanese philosophers, and relevant aspects of Shinto thought regarding mortality, relationality, and transience.
Identify and outline points of convergence and divergence between Japanese philosophical traditions and selected Western approaches, particularly process philosophy.
Analyse literary, artistic, and philosophical sources to interpret how themes of death, desire, and decay are articulated across historical and contemporary Japanese contexts.
Critically compare Japanese and Western conceptualisations of impermanence and selfhood, drawing on interdisciplinary materials
Evaluate contemporary artistic practices (bioart, microbial art) in terms of their aesthetic, ethical, and philosophical significance.

Fee info

The tuition fee includes course material (in electronic format), coffee breaks, two lunches, social activities and a dinner. It does not include travel and accommodation.