福澤諭吉の格闘を通して、我々が求めるべき「文明」とは何かを考えよう
250 年あまり続いた江戸時代の日本は、西洋とは異質で閉ざされた社会でした。その国は、1868 年の明治維新を経て、西洋諸国に学び、近代化を推し進めました。
その時代の転換点にあって、単に科学技術や制度などの文明の形を導入するだけでなく、西洋社会の考え方やその精神の本質を見極め、日本人のあるべき姿を模索し続けた人がいました。それが福澤諭吉です。
このコースでは、福澤諭吉という、日本が真に近代化、文明化する為に、社会の問題を鋭く指摘し、格闘し続けた人物を通じて、「独立」「文明」という言葉をキーワードに、個人、社会、国、そして世界のあり方を考えていきます。福澤の 150 年前の模索と苦悩を、興味深い過去の歴史として捉えるだけでなく、現代の世界が抱える課題にも気付きを与え、解決のための視座を共有していきます。
福澤諭吉は 200 年近く昔に低い身分の侍の家に生まれ、封建的身分制度に違和感を持ちながら少年時代を過ごしました。満 19 歳の時からオランダ語を通じて西洋の学問を学びます。更に英語を習得し、当時まだ外国を見た人がほとんどいない時代に 3 度の海外体験のチャンスをつかみ、西洋の社会をつぶさに観察しました。
福澤は表面的な技術の発展だけに目を奪われず、何よりも西洋人の社会の「気風」に着目し、それをつくり出しているものについて考えました。 コースでは、国のあり方、官と民、男女や家族、学問と人間など、当時の日本ではなじみのなかった視点を世の中にどのように説き、自ら実践したのか紹介していきます。
福澤が提示した社会の課題は、実はまだ残されたままのものが多くあります。明治時代の日本と、現代の私たちが生きる社会とを比較しながら、求めるべき「文明」とは何か考えてみましょう。
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Keio University is a private, comprehensive higher education institution located on six campuses spread across the Greater Tokyo area. It offers an environment of academic and research excellence in a wide range of fields, and includes a university hospital. Founded in 1858, it is Japan’s first modern institution of higher learning, and over the last century and a half it has established itself as a leader in Japan through its continued commitment to education, research and medicine.
Keio has its origins in the school of Western learning established by Yukichi Fukuzawa, a school which soon evolved into a major center of learning. As a highly respected educator and intellectual, Fukuzawa was one of the pioneers of modern Japan. He aspired for Keio to become a model and leader of society, stressing the importance of learning that is based on jitsugaku, or “science”. In today’s changing world, Keio upholds its founder’s spirit of science as it continues to fulfill his aspiration.
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