ナビ・ピレイ国連人権高等弁務官によるスピーチで始まりました。Rio-20、QCPR(Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of UN operational activities)、post-2015 development agendaを人権の主流化にとって重要な契機と位置付けています。
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
国連人権理事会第１９会期が始まりました
ナビ・ピレイ国連人権高等弁務官によるスピーチで始まりました。Rio-20、QCPR(Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of UN operational activities)、post-2015 development agendaを人権の主流化にとって重要な契機と位置付けています。
Monday, June 27, 2011
Charles Taylor
[Journal of Social Sciences, No.10, Faculty of Social Sciences, Waseda University, 09/2007]
Charles Taylor
Akihiko Morita
1. Introduction
Charles Taylor is one of the leading philosophers in the contemporary world. His works range from reflections on artificial intelligence to analyses of contemporary multicultural societies(Ruth Abbey,2000:1). He contributes to wide spectrum of philosophical areas: moral theory, theories of subjectivity, political theory, epistemology, hermeneutics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, aesthetics and religion(Ruth Abbey,2004:1).
However, despite of the variety of the areas and topics of his interest, there is certain intrinsic connection between them.
This paper aims at illustrating this intrinsic connection through scrutinizing his epistemology, moral ontology and political philosophy about multiculturalism, which leads up to his understanding of multiple modernities.
In this connection, it is worth noting at the very outset that it is not Taylor’s position that modernity is a single process of which European model is the paradigm. He holds rather that even though European modernity is the first one in history and has been object of some imitation for the other parts of the world, it is, after all, one of many. From this understanding, Taylor insists that the more they understand own path to modernity in the West, the better equipped they can understand the difference with other cultures(MSI:xii).
No society can develop a modern state and a market economy without some important change. And what come out depends partly on what went into the change. From this point of view, we should speak instead of “alternative modernities”, different way of living the political and economic structures that the contemporary age makes mandatory. How these are worked out in India will not be the same as in Japan, which is in turn different from the North Atlantic region- which in its turn again has much inner diversity(PA:xi-xii).
Charles Taylor
Akihiko Morita
1. Introduction
Charles Taylor is one of the leading philosophers in the contemporary world. His works range from reflections on artificial intelligence to analyses of contemporary multicultural societies(Ruth Abbey,2000:1). He contributes to wide spectrum of philosophical areas: moral theory, theories of subjectivity, political theory, epistemology, hermeneutics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, aesthetics and religion(Ruth Abbey,2004:1).
However, despite of the variety of the areas and topics of his interest, there is certain intrinsic connection between them.
This paper aims at illustrating this intrinsic connection through scrutinizing his epistemology, moral ontology and political philosophy about multiculturalism, which leads up to his understanding of multiple modernities.
In this connection, it is worth noting at the very outset that it is not Taylor’s position that modernity is a single process of which European model is the paradigm. He holds rather that even though European modernity is the first one in history and has been object of some imitation for the other parts of the world, it is, after all, one of many. From this understanding, Taylor insists that the more they understand own path to modernity in the West, the better equipped they can understand the difference with other cultures(MSI:xii).
No society can develop a modern state and a market economy without some important change. And what come out depends partly on what went into the change. From this point of view, we should speak instead of “alternative modernities”, different way of living the political and economic structures that the contemporary age makes mandatory. How these are worked out in India will not be the same as in Japan, which is in turn different from the North Atlantic region- which in its turn again has much inner diversity(PA:xi-xii).
Difference in the Conceptions of Self as subject of human rights
[My presentation paper at the special workshop of the 24th IVR World Congress in 2009]
Difference in the Conceptions of Self as subject of human rights
between the West and Japan
Can Confucian Self be strong enough to exercise the positive liberty
in the authoritarian society ?
Prof. Akihiko Morita
Charles Taylor raised the following question;
Can people who imbibe the full Western human rights ethos, which reaches its highest expression in the lone courageous individual fighting against all the forces of social conformity for her rights, ever be good members of a “Confucian” society ?
(Charles Taylor, “Conditions of an unforced consensus on human rights” in Joanne R.Bauer and Daniel A. Bell eds., The East Asian Challenge for Human Rights , Cambridge University Press, 1999, p.129.)
The modern Western discourse of rights involves a certain philosophical view of humans and their society, of which the cornerstone concept is the subjective right.
In this special workshop, I would like to take up the cultural difference about the conception of the Self as subject of human rights between the West and the North East Asia in order to explore a plausible means to incorporate the human rights norm, which I believe is universal in nature, into the non-western society such as Japan.
In this regards, I follow the dual distinction of the human rights presented by Taylor, namely human rights as legal language and its underlying philosophical foundation.
( The notion of (subjective) rights both serves to define certain legal powers and also provides the master image for a philosophy of human nature, of individuals and their societies. Charles Taylor, “Conditions of an unforced consensus on human rights”, p.127.)
My goal in this exploration is to find out and articulate the proper conception of self and society, based on its history and tradition, which can best serve as underlying philosophical foundation for the human rights norm.
I also accept Taylor’s contention that to know who you are is to be oriented in moral space. I hold that any society has own social moral order in which its member can develop and retain his/her unique identity.
My tentative propositions are as follows.
1) While the Japanese state is relatively liberal, Japanese society is not.
2) Northeast Asian societies, China, Korea and Japan, embrace the Confucian tradition even though the trajectories and the forms are different.
3) Shinto Confucianism is not the only possible conception of Neo-Confucianism.
4) Any society has own social moral order, embracing its own conception of humans and society, supported by the collective rituals developed in its history.
5) The Confucian conception of self as a center of relationship and as a dynamic process of spiritual development can be compatible with the modern conception of self in the West as subject of human rights.
Difference in the Conceptions of Self as subject of human rights
between the West and Japan
Can Confucian Self be strong enough to exercise the positive liberty
in the authoritarian society ?
Prof. Akihiko Morita
Charles Taylor raised the following question;
Can people who imbibe the full Western human rights ethos, which reaches its highest expression in the lone courageous individual fighting against all the forces of social conformity for her rights, ever be good members of a “Confucian” society ?
(Charles Taylor, “Conditions of an unforced consensus on human rights” in Joanne R.Bauer and Daniel A. Bell eds., The East Asian Challenge for Human Rights , Cambridge University Press, 1999, p.129.)
The modern Western discourse of rights involves a certain philosophical view of humans and their society, of which the cornerstone concept is the subjective right.
In this special workshop, I would like to take up the cultural difference about the conception of the Self as subject of human rights between the West and the North East Asia in order to explore a plausible means to incorporate the human rights norm, which I believe is universal in nature, into the non-western society such as Japan.
In this regards, I follow the dual distinction of the human rights presented by Taylor, namely human rights as legal language and its underlying philosophical foundation.
( The notion of (subjective) rights both serves to define certain legal powers and also provides the master image for a philosophy of human nature, of individuals and their societies. Charles Taylor, “Conditions of an unforced consensus on human rights”, p.127.)
My goal in this exploration is to find out and articulate the proper conception of self and society, based on its history and tradition, which can best serve as underlying philosophical foundation for the human rights norm.
I also accept Taylor’s contention that to know who you are is to be oriented in moral space. I hold that any society has own social moral order in which its member can develop and retain his/her unique identity.
My tentative propositions are as follows.
1) While the Japanese state is relatively liberal, Japanese society is not.
2) Northeast Asian societies, China, Korea and Japan, embrace the Confucian tradition even though the trajectories and the forms are different.
3) Shinto Confucianism is not the only possible conception of Neo-Confucianism.
4) Any society has own social moral order, embracing its own conception of humans and society, supported by the collective rituals developed in its history.
5) The Confucian conception of self as a center of relationship and as a dynamic process of spiritual development can be compatible with the modern conception of self in the West as subject of human rights.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
MAKING of Global Society - Special Seminar in the Department of Social Engineering/Tokyo Institute of Technology
【Lecturer】
Prof. Akihiko Morita, Ph.D
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Graduate school of Decision Science and Engineering
Department of Social Engineering
【Outline of my seminar】
Now, we have more than 190 sovereign states on this globe.
It is said that sovereign state or nation state as system was established in 1648.
Congregation of these nation states has been considered as international society for long years. “International society” originally means society of nations.
However, gradually, other actors such as United Nations, Multinational Development Banks such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank, transnational enterprises, international NGOs and social entrepreneurs have appeared in this international society.
In parallel with this development, human rights as international norm has gained more importance to which every actor must adher.
This lecture aims at providing participants with basic knowledge of modern history, focusing on its actors and human rights, from the view points of economic, social and philosophical histories.
【Schedule】
April 24th 13:20～16:30 West Bldg. 9 Room204
May 15th
May 29th
June 12th
June 26th
July 17th
July 24th
【Title of each class】
1. Introduction
2. Multiple modernities
3. History of human rights
4. Nation states and international organizations
5. UNICEF and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
6. UNDP and Human Development Reports
7. International Criminal Courts and Human rights Procedures
8. GATT and WTO
9. WTO and FTA, Japanese migrant policy
10. The modern West and evolution of EC
11. Contemporary EU and its challenge, the issue of foreign workers
12. Breton woods institutions
13. Multinational Development Banks (World Bank, Asian Development Bank)
14. Davos Economic Forum and World Social Forum
【Criteria for Scores】
Report in each class ３０％（one page in A4 paper）
Active participation to discussion in class ４０％
Final report ３０％（approximately 3000words）
【Text】
Akihiko Morita,“The New Horizon of Human Rights - Dialogue with Charles Taylor”, Fujiwara-shoten, 04/2005.
＜References＞
E.H.Carr, The Twenty Years' Crisis, 1919-1939: An Introduction to the Study of International Relations, (Macmillan, 1939, 2nd ed., 1946)
Rudolf Von Jhering, The Struggle for Law, Kessinger Pub Co (2007/6/30)
Charles Taylor, Ethics of Authenticity, Harvard University Press,1991
Charles Taylor, Multiculturalism and The Politics of Recognition, Princeton University Press, 1992
Michael Ignatieff, Human Rights as Politics and Idolatry ,Princeton University Press, 2001
【My comments】
Mr. Yukihiko Okazaki, a former senior diplomat and renowned strategist once writes that we need to study last hundred years’ history in order to predict next 10 years.
One of major issues is to learn how globalization has emerged and to reflect where it is heading for.
This lecture aims at providing some opportunity to examine the globalization historically, focusing on the actors such as nation states, intergovernmental organizations and NPO/NGOs.
【My profile】
04/2006-present
Professor of the Tokyo Institute of Technology
Senior adviser/Save the Children Japan
A member of the steering committee of JNATIP(Japan Network Against Trafficking in Persons)1/1997 - 5/2004
Head of the Information & Public Affairs Division/Japan Committee for UNICEF
1/2002-5/2004
Elected and Served as Chair of the Communication Workshop, association of the heads of the communication section of the 37 National Committee for UNICEF
4/1983 - 8/1995
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
9/1992 - 8/1994
Seconded to UNDP (New York)
【Publications】
“Expressive-arts-therapy applied research method - Authentic narratives by trafficking victims”, Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women, 03/2007）
“The New Horizon of Human Rights - Dialogue with Charles Taylor”, Fujiwara-shoten, 04/2005.＜English articles＞
Climate change and vulnerable people - Public Social Private Partnership in Adaptation、Discussion Paper No.08-05、Tokyo Institute of Technology、06/2008
“Charles Taylor”、Journal of Social Sciences, No.10, Faculty of Social Sciences, Waseda University, 09/2007
”Social Imaginaries of Ubiquitous society and Human Rights”, proceeding for the special workshop at the 23rd World Congress of Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy in 08/2007.
”Expressive-arts-therapy applied research method”, Asian Breeze, No.48（Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women, 11/2006）
“Collaboration between civil society and government-Challenge in the Greater Mekong Sub (GMS) Region-“,Journal of Asian Women's Studies No.15（Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women, 12/2006）.
Prof. Akihiko Morita, Ph.D
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Graduate school of Decision Science and Engineering
Department of Social Engineering
【Outline of my seminar】
Now, we have more than 190 sovereign states on this globe.
It is said that sovereign state or nation state as system was established in 1648.
Congregation of these nation states has been considered as international society for long years. “International society” originally means society of nations.
However, gradually, other actors such as United Nations, Multinational Development Banks such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank, transnational enterprises, international NGOs and social entrepreneurs have appeared in this international society.
In parallel with this development, human rights as international norm has gained more importance to which every actor must adher.
This lecture aims at providing participants with basic knowledge of modern history, focusing on its actors and human rights, from the view points of economic, social and philosophical histories.
【Schedule】
April 24th 13:20～16:30 West Bldg. 9 Room204
May 15th
May 29th
June 12th
June 26th
July 17th
July 24th
【Title of each class】
1. Introduction
2. Multiple modernities
3. History of human rights
4. Nation states and international organizations
5. UNICEF and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
6. UNDP and Human Development Reports
7. International Criminal Courts and Human rights Procedures
8. GATT and WTO
9. WTO and FTA, Japanese migrant policy
10. The modern West and evolution of EC
11. Contemporary EU and its challenge, the issue of foreign workers
12. Breton woods institutions
13. Multinational Development Banks (World Bank, Asian Development Bank)
14. Davos Economic Forum and World Social Forum
【Criteria for Scores】
Report in each class ３０％（one page in A4 paper）
Active participation to discussion in class ４０％
Final report ３０％（approximately 3000words）
【Text】
Akihiko Morita,“The New Horizon of Human Rights - Dialogue with Charles Taylor”, Fujiwara-shoten, 04/2005.
＜References＞
E.H.Carr, The Twenty Years' Crisis, 1919-1939: An Introduction to the Study of International Relations, (Macmillan, 1939, 2nd ed., 1946)
Rudolf Von Jhering, The Struggle for Law, Kessinger Pub Co (2007/6/30)
Charles Taylor, Ethics of Authenticity, Harvard University Press,1991
Charles Taylor, Multiculturalism and The Politics of Recognition, Princeton University Press, 1992
Michael Ignatieff, Human Rights as Politics and Idolatry ,Princeton University Press, 2001
【My comments】
Mr. Yukihiko Okazaki, a former senior diplomat and renowned strategist once writes that we need to study last hundred years’ history in order to predict next 10 years.
One of major issues is to learn how globalization has emerged and to reflect where it is heading for.
This lecture aims at providing some opportunity to examine the globalization historically, focusing on the actors such as nation states, intergovernmental organizations and NPO/NGOs.
【My profile】
04/2006-present
Professor of the Tokyo Institute of Technology
Senior adviser/Save the Children Japan
A member of the steering committee of JNATIP(Japan Network Against Trafficking in Persons)1/1997 - 5/2004
Head of the Information & Public Affairs Division/Japan Committee for UNICEF
1/2002-5/2004
Elected and Served as Chair of the Communication Workshop, association of the heads of the communication section of the 37 National Committee for UNICEF
4/1983 - 8/1995
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
9/1992 - 8/1994
Seconded to UNDP (New York)
【Publications】
“Expressive-arts-therapy applied research method - Authentic narratives by trafficking victims”, Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women, 03/2007）
“The New Horizon of Human Rights - Dialogue with Charles Taylor”, Fujiwara-shoten, 04/2005.＜English articles＞
Climate change and vulnerable people - Public Social Private Partnership in Adaptation、Discussion Paper No.08-05、Tokyo Institute of Technology、06/2008
“Charles Taylor”、Journal of Social Sciences, No.10, Faculty of Social Sciences, Waseda University, 09/2007
”Social Imaginaries of Ubiquitous society and Human Rights”, proceeding for the special workshop at the 23rd World Congress of Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy in 08/2007.
”Expressive-arts-therapy applied research method”, Asian Breeze, No.48（Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women, 11/2006）
“Collaboration between civil society and government-Challenge in the Greater Mekong Sub (GMS) Region-“,Journal of Asian Women's Studies No.15（Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women, 12/2006）.
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