Sakeme ni Sekai o Hiraku (Unveiling New Worlds through Cracks: Explorations of “Co-becoming” - Liberal Arts Lectures at the University of Tokyo)

The East Asian Academy for New Liberal Arts (EAA) at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) is a research and education organization dedicated to forging new academic fields through the creation and practice of "new liberal arts from East Asia." The EAA hosts a yearly omnibus lecture series titled "Towards the World Thirty Years Later" at the College of Arts and Sciences. These lectures are subsequently published in a series of books. This series provides a platform for the university to collaborate with society in envisioning a better future and a better world. Primarily intended for first- and second-year undergraduate students, the general public can access this lecture series through UTokyo OCW, an online platform that offers video recordings of regular University of Tokyo courses.
 
This book is based on the 2022 lecture series, "Towards the World Thirty Years Later: Questioning “kyōsei'." The term "kyōsei," translated literally as "living together" or "co-existence," originated in Japan. It has gained significant traction in East Asian countries that use Chinese characters. “Kyōsei” has become increasingly relevant amid pressing global challenges such as ecological crises and international conflicts, as well as interpersonal tensions in daily life. However, while “kyōsei” often evokes ideals of harmony, particularly when linked to biological symbiosis, it also has the potential to justify harmful practices. Historical and contemporary experiences highlight that framing "kyōsei" as a moral imperative can validate coercion, exclusion, and violence under the guise of achieving harmony.
 
This book approaches "kyōsei" not as a simplistic ideal but as a complex and multifaceted concept. It begins by critically examining the inherent difficulties, potential dangers, and underlying hypocrisies. Through various perspectives, this book explores the kind of world that we should strive to create.
 
Today, "kyōsei" has garnered international attention as a concept describing a shared concern. In Europe, for instance, an academic and social movement centered around the concept of "conviviality" addresses global challenges. Similarly, the concept of "gongsheng," the Chinese equivalent of "kyōsei," has gained recognition in Asia as an academic topic. Scholars from diverse fields have collaborated to develop "gongsheng" as an interdisciplinary and universal value for humanity. This book represents Japan's contribution to this global intellectual movement, engaging with the concepts of "kyōsei," "gongsheng," and "conviviality."
 
Instead of merely responding to this movement, this book demonstrates that scholars from UTokyo played a key role in international efforts to critically examine these beautiful yet complex concepts. It embodies the spirit of academic inquiry aimed at transforming the world by working together.
 

(Written by ISHII Tsuyoshi, Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences / 2025)