A Study Of An Outiline Of A Theory Of Civilization

Fukuzawa Yukichi is a critically important thinker for studying and analyzingmodern Japanese history and enlightenment thought. The most theoreticallyinfluential of his many works, An Outline of A Theory of Civilization uses civilizationas a framework and renders a panoramic view of his conceptualization andunderstanding of modernity from the perspectives of society, state, politics,economics, diplomacy, religion, ethics and so on. In Japan, Civilization has beenexamined and interpreted for over a century such that a sophisticated intellectualgenealogy exists in the academic community. An examination of the text ofCivilization and a historiography of related research therefore is indispensable forunderstanding the evolution in modern Japanese intellectual thought.Much research has been carried out by Chinese scholars on Civilization andmuch has been learned. Overall, however, there is more generalizing critique thandetailed contextual analyses. Using positive analytical approach and bycontextualizing the geneses of many ideas in the book, this thesis aims tocomprehensively interpret the content of this classic in attempt to better appreciate themany intellectual underpinnings undiscovered so far.This thesis is composed of six parts. In Introduction, I systematically investigatemajor debates on the reading of Civilization, I then argue in Chapter 2 thatFukuzawa’s training and knowledge in classic Chinese philosophy is the basis onwhich he introduced and imitated Western knowledge and then launched his owntheory. Employing the tools of historical methods, Chapter 3 dwells on thebackground, writing process, intellectual origins and various drafts of Civilization andrelates them to his writing style. Focusing on some key words of Civilization, Chapterseeks to reconstitute the many social scenarios and historical turning points in whichmodern“new”concepts such as civilization, liberty, society, state and morality areinvented, and ponder over the renewal and rebirth of the many ideas in Chinesephilosophy.Reflecting on the excessive rationalism and scientism in previous research onCivilization, Chapter 5 highlights the contemporary significance of thisre-examination and points to direction for future research. The appendix lists andsummarizes a great variety of important research data and materials in the hopes thatwith our entry the microcosm of language and ways of thinking they will expand ourpurview and deepen our knowledge.