The Relation between “Gemeinschaft” and the Individual Subjectivity in the Modernization Process of Japan

Abstract

There are signs of alienation and anomie spreading in modern society because of the rapid progress of industrialization. As a consequence, it is being recognized that some kinds of “Gemeinschaft” s have an effective function to conquer the situation as mentioned above. True solidarity and humanity will be created by a reasonable relationship between “Gemeinschaft” and an individual, especially, in the “Klima” of Japan. For it is very difficult for isolated men to establish the personal subjectivity that is the core of solidarity and humanity, particularly in Japan where we do not have the tradition of essential individualism and true “civil society”. It goes without saying that we don't necessarily affirm all the aspects of “Gemeinschaft”, for the complete affirmation of it would deprive a person of the spirit of independence or autonomy.In this paper I attempt to inquire into the reasonable relationship between “Gemeinschaft” and an individual, which may produce true solidarity and humanity, from the viewpoint of “conforming behavior” and “deviant behavior”. This kind of study should be performed with reference to its historical background. Therefor I tried to take a bird's-eye view of the modern history of Japan for my concrete data. As the result of investigation, it is verified that there are many kinds of pseudo- “Gemeinschaft” s, and that those kinds of “Gemeinschaft” s stand in an undesirable relationship with the individual. Of course, these are evidently social pathological phenomena.In spite of these pathological phenomena, I am convinced that the total emancipation of human nature or the real social reform can be achieved by the utilizing of the potential energy of “Gemeinschaft” which has a tendency to form the pseudo- “Gemeinschaft”. I don't mean to abandon these kinds of “Gemeinschaft” s without reconsideration, that is, I mean not the complete negation of “Gemeinschaft” but a kind of negative affirmation i.e. “Aufheben” of it. And in it there is the original route for modernization in Japan.