Xiong Shili, Kiyozawa Manshi, and the Logic of Transformation

Abstract

This paper offers a comparative-philosophical examination of how the early 20th-century Chinese philosopher Xiong Shili (1885–1968) and late 19th-century Japanese philosopher Kiyozawa Manshi (1863–1903) thought about the topic of transformation. Although the two thinkers face similar material and intellectual circumstances – both attempt to develop an idealist philosophy of mind to combat naturalism – my focus is on demonstrating that they occupy inverted philosophical positions on transformation. I begin by discussing their different evaluations of logic. Xiong considers logic nothing more than a tool for combating false views that must be abandoned upon achieving its goal. Kiyozawa has a positive understanding of logic and thinks that it can be used speculatively to conceive of our relation to the unlimited. I then show how their differing evaluations of logic are rooted in their divergent views on transformation. Kiyozawa conceives of transformation as a process of spiritual evolution from matter to mind; that is, for him something transforms into something else. To Xiong, transformation is the sole reality; that is, for him there is only: transformation. In the last part, I supplement idea-historical reasons for their inverted positions vis-à-vis transformation with a philosophical examination aimed at revealing the existential attitudes from which Xiong and Kiyozawa theorize and engage in practice. To that end, I heuristically apply Kiyozawa’s two-gate theory. Within the framework offered by this theory, Xiong can be considered a philosopher of self-power, and Kiyozawa one of other-power.