The Nothingness Beyond God: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Nishida Kitaro

by Robert E. Carter

When we hear the term "Japanese philosophy" we think of Zen Buddhism or the Shinto scriptures. Yet one of the great 20th century interpreters of Western philosophy, Nishida Kitaro, lived and wrote in the Japanese islands all his life, laboring at an ultimate synthesis of oriental thought and Western hermeneutics. To be sure, Nishida's aim was to understand his own cultural influences in relation to the Western world. What distinguished him, however, was his passion for rendering oriental metaphysics understandable in the language of Western philosophy, and his attempts to contrast the paradoxicality of Buddhist logic with the logical strategies of Aristotle, Kant, or Hegel. Featured in this book is an interpretation of Nishida's writings. Professor Carter focuses on the Japanese thinker's notion of "basho," a concept of nothingness as field, place or topos as borrowed from Plato's Tim'us. Expounding on the logical foundations and archaic elements in Nishida's work, and carefully explaining Nishida's critical approach to the questions of God, religion and morality, and pure existence, this discerning book offers students of Western philosophy and oriental thought alike a highly readable introduction to the teachings of a true world philosopher.

Genres: Philosophy, Zen, Buddhism

218 pages, Hardcover

First published April 17, 1998

Reviews

[Andrew Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nothingness Beyond God is an introduction into the existential/ phenomenological philosophy of Nishida Kitaro. It is not an easy book to get through but if you like philosophy, have a degree in it, or like to challenge yourself this book will leave you with a transformed worldview.

It is written in a way to bring to light the work of another; Robert E. Carter does well in structuring and enlightening us on how Nishida's philosophy should work.

This is a philosophical text and is paced as well as a philosophical text can be, but in the end can lead you to having to force yourself to continue until finished.

I would recommend this book for anyone who likes to challenge their own mode of thinking or just likes to challenge themselves intellectually. Existential Phenomenology is often overlooked because of it's complexity and this is a great shame because there is so much about life we can learn from it.

[Phil Calandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Nothingness Beyond God" is a challenging but compelling book more geared for the PhD in Philosophy and or those having a deep interest in Eastern and Western Philosophy. The author attempts to marry Eastern and Western Philosophy by comparing and contrasting the philosophy of Nishida Kitaro with Plato, Socrates and other philosophers. As aforementioned, this is an extremely challenging and erudite composition well worth the read. I would highly recommend it.

[Sandrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading required as part of the “Ultimate Reality” course by John Vervaeke.
In depth rendition of Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro’s work. A rendition fit for the inquisitive mind that allows for the merging at the liminal frontier of Eastern and Western philosophical concepts.

May I say that after this you will look at a Kimono in very different form. 😃

[Amitav Sanyal · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on the philosophies of Nishida Kitaro San.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult and rewarding. Highly enjoyed gaining some new perspectives and ways of thinking about "nothingness", "god" and everything around us.