Paper short abstract:

This paper reveals some of the characteristics of 'knowledge' (chi) in postwar Japan in terms of the concept of 'dialogue' (taiwa). For this purpose, it examines the mutual relationship between the knowledge of intellectuals and common-sense knowledge in the country.

Paper long abstract:

This paper, by means of social constructivism, explores the mutual relationship between the knowledge of intellectuals and common-sense knowledge in postwar Japan in terms of the concept of 'dialogue', particularly through referring to the two social contexts of knowledge which determine their respective existential forms. It thereby identifies the core characteristics of 'knowledge' specific to postwar Japanese society and some difficulties with it. The word knowledge in this paper is divided into two kinds in terms of social constructivism: the knowledge of intellectuals (scientific expertise) and common-sense knowledge (everyday life knowledge). From a social constructivist perspective, the former comes into being along the same line as the latter.

The primary issues of this paper are built on the enquiry of why the knowledge of a society can be transformed whenever it is exported to another society. This articulates a hypothesis with reference to the transformation of the concept of 'dialectic' (Dialektik) in Japan: Japanese society, since importing the dialectical method from the West, has applied it exclusively from the unique perspective of 'flexibility', a simple aspect of the concept. It can be argued that dialectic is construed as a means of neutralising conflict and struggle in Japan. However, Hegel-Marx's model of dialectic, which many Japanese thinkers reference, does aim not solely to resolve conflict emerging in a dialogue as a logical process, but rather to change the status quo of a society: 'sublation' (Aufheben).

Do there exist any characteristics in ways of internalising knowledge with respect to a society's form of dialogue? It would appear that there exist ways of thinking and understanding specific to a society that elucidate the society's mentality and social unconscious and construct its form of dialogue. On the basis of this concern, I seek to clarify some specific characteristics of Japan's way of absorbing knowledge as has been determined by its own mindset while shining a light on the human action of dialogue.