Watsuji Tetsurō and the Philosophy of “Being-in-Betweenness”

Context

Japanese philosopher Watsuji Tetsurō is being widely revisited in contemporary philosophy for offering a robust, non-Western ethical framework. His work serves as a critical alternative to hyper-individualistic notions of the self, emphasizing our inherent social and ecological connections.

About Watsuji Tetsurō

Who he was:

Watsuji Tetsurō (1889–1960): A preeminent 20th-century Japanese philosopher and ethicist.
Bridge-Builder: One of the first Japanese scholars to critically engage with Western existentialism (Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Hegel).
Foundational Works: Author of Fūdo (Climate and Culture) and Rinrigaku (Ethics), which established the pillars of Japanese environmental and relational ethics.

Core Philosophies

Critique of the Western Self: Watsuji rejected the concept of the atomized, autonomous individual. He argued that Western ethics mistakenly universalized a culturally specific European subject, failing to account for social and ecological embeddedness.

The Concept of ‘Ningen’ (Human Being):

Etymology: In Japanese, the word for human (ningen) consists of two characters: "person" and "betweenness" (aida).
Betweenness: Humans are not isolated units but are constituted through relationships with others, history, and nature.
Dual Nature: The self is simultaneously individual and collective—at once a singular entity and a part of a plural whole.

Emptiness and Self-Negation:

Drawing from Mahayana Buddhism, Watsuji utilized the concept of emptiness (śūnyatā), the idea that the self has no fixed, independent essence.
Ethical Requirement: Authentic life requires "self-negation," where the individual suppresses their ego to create a "betweenness" where others can flourish.

Ethics as Lived Practice (Rinrigaku): Watsuji redefined ethics not as abstract moral laws, but as the study of how humans live relationally. Moral values are seen as emerging from concrete social practices, shared traditions, and communal life.

Relevance in the Modern World

Environmental Crisis: Counters anthropocentrism (human-centeredness) by stressing our biological and spiritual embeddedness in nature.
Mental Health & Alienation: Offers a "relational" view of the self that combats the loneliness and alienation caused by hyper-individualistic societies.
Decolonial Philosophy: Challenges Western universalism and provides a legitimate framework for plural ethical traditions.
Social Ethics: Prioritizes community, compassion, and mutual responsibility over the modern drive toward pure egoism.

Conclusion

Watsuji Tetsurō’s philosophy of "betweenness" provides a vital lens for the 21st century. By shifting the focus from the "I" to the "Between," his work offers a pathway to solving global crises through a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness.

Watsuji Tetsurō and the Philosophy of “Being-in-Betweenness”