“Deeper in Casual Daily Life” Philosopher/Novelist Masaya Chiba, October 26, 18:15
The philosophy book published in March this year is now a bestseller with over 100,000 copies.
Why are people reading this seemingly inaccessible book called "Introduction to Modern Thought"?
When I talked to the author, there were many words that give hints to people who have a sense of blockage.
(Utsunomiya Broadcasting Station reporter Hironao Kawakami)
The spirit of "deviation" and "play" that resonates now
The author of the book is Masaya Chiba, a philosopher and novelist.
A professor at the Graduate School of Ritsumeikan University, he is a philosopher who specializes in contemporary French thought since the mid-20th century.
He posts his daily life to over 70,000 followers on Twitter almost every day.
He is also active as a novelist, and his words are attracting attention, such as being selected as a candidate for the Akutagawa Prize twice.
This year, Mr. Chiba published "Introduction to Modern Thought", which summarizes the ideas developed mainly in France from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Mr. Masaya Chiba
"I thought that there is a useful thought in modern thought, worth rereading now. Derrida, Deleuze, and Foucault, who can be said to be superheroes, will be explained compactly. They are saying in common. What is there is “deviation” from order, freedom, margins, and “escape.” I convey these values.”
Mr. Chiba says that what modern thought conveys is the spirit of "deviation" and "playfulness."
I believe that the reason why the book is so popular is because the ideas that were popular in the world a while ago sounded fresh to today's readers.
Mr. Masaya Chiba:
“I guess there are people who feel more trapped than they thought and want hints for a new way of life. There is a chilled feeling that there is no place to escape to, but it is okay to have some kind of sloppiness, and the good old, or rather the idea of seeking freedom, is being reconsidered. I wonder if they are."
For those who feel lonely
Mr. Chiba casts doubts on the excessive orderliness of society.
When writing a book, it is said that there are some readers who are particularly conscious and put their thoughts into it.
It is "people who feel that they must be this way and feel lonely".
Mr. Masaya Chiba:
“For better or for worse, the value of adapting to the surroundings and getting along well is becoming stronger, so I wanted to appeal to people who have a sense that something is a little different. I wanted to tell people who feel it to always be true to themselves."
Lonely people who live in harmony with their surroundings, hiding their thoughts even though they feel uncomfortable.
Mr. Chiba talks to such people to “believe” in the time that flows only within them.
Mr. Masaya Chiba
``Since people live in groups, there are certainly parts where you have to restrain yourself. I think we are moving in the direction of making things smoother and smoother. I think it's important to live the time axis that flows only inside, and I think that through my work, I'm doing activities to make people realize that."
Deepen your casual daily life
On the other hand, some people may think that philosophy is "difficult and inaccessible" or "something far from their own."
Mr. Chiba has told such people that philosophy is "something hidden in everyday life."
Mr. Masaya Chiba
``If you take a concrete look at what philosophers are thinking in light of your own experiences, you will definitely find a connection to your life. Everyday life is hidden even in deep problems.”
For example, philosophers such as Derrida and Levinas who thought about the Other.
It is said that their thoughts can be touched when facing friends at a coffee shop.
Masaya Chiba:
For example, when you meet a friend at a coffee shop for the first time in a while, who you used to see a lot in the past, but haven't seen much recently, you may feel a little nervous and have a strange feeling. Whether you should say yes to what the other person said to you, or whether you should let it go without replying, there are very complex and rich things going on. Then we'll just become Levinas and Derrida."
Digging into casual everyday problems.
Then there is an encounter with philosophy.
Mr. Masaya Chiba
``Philosophy seems to be a distant and difficult thing. No. It's important to think in terms of specific situations in your life that you're interested in. To live more deeply in your casual everyday life.In order to do that, I think that everyday life and philosophy can come and go naturally. increase"
“Owasu”
In addition, Mr. Chiba taught me how to actually apply modern thinking to how I approach my day-to-day work.
Mr. Masaya Chiba
"For example, 'finiteness' is one of the important keywords in my work. Humans are finite, so for me, for example, I can't master philosophy. So, I'll do what I can within my physical limits. If I get tired, I can't do any more, so I just need to take a break."
In our finite life, we do what we can, one by one, while taking a break from time to time.
In other words, it is said that life hacks (techniques for work and life) can be deciphered from modern thought.
Mr. Chiba himself seems to have the word "Owasu", which means "to end" in the dialect of Tochigi Prefecture, where he is from, somewhere in his heart.
Mr. Masaya Chiba:
“It really sounds like Tochigi’s finiteness. In order to expand the possibilities to a higher level, it is paradoxically necessary to stop for a moment and face the limits.
I want to expand what I can write
In recent years, Mr. Chiba is active not only as a philosopher but also as a novelist.
Her first novel "Deadline" won the Noma Literary Prize for New Writers, and last year's "Magic Mirror" won the Yasunari Kawabata Literary Prize.
The words are also highly regarded in the field of literature.
Mr. Masaya Chiba
``I don't feel like I'm originally using words or setting up a proper argument.I'm a philosopher, but I'm not the purely logical type. It's interesting if you turn your attention to things like what you see, the temperature you feel on your skin, or the feeling of sound coming in, and wonder what the world of writing will be like that spreads out from there. It feels like it's gone."
Mr. Chiba says that after starting to write novels, his activities have moved to the next phase.
Finally, he talked about his aspirations for the future.
Mr. Masaya Chiba
“Simply put, I have an image of breaking the constraints that are placed on me.For me, it is to expand what I can write.I think I will leave the rest to chance. When I think about it, it's when the various contexts of my unconscious come into place, and it's hard to put into words. I think there must be a good reason for it.
Utsunomiya Broadcasting Station Reporter
Kansho Kawakami Joined the station in
2015
Mainly covering the fields of culture and art at the Utsunomiya station