Public lecture by Professor Deguchi and other notable professors. Discussion on “Multilayered Society of Values”, “Universality,” etc. Co-organized with Kyoto Institute of Philosophy

Professor Yasuo Deguchi of Kyoto University, Co-chairperson of the Kyoto Institute of Philosophy, and Professor Markus Gabriel of the University of Bonn, Germany, who is also a senior global advisor to the institute, contributed to a public symposium held in Kyoto.

Professor Yasuo Deguchi of Kyoto University, Co-chairperson of the Kyoto Institute of Philosophy, hosted a public symposium held at the Kyoto Karasuma Convention Hall in Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto on November 2. The event was co-hosted by the Institute and the Kyoto Philosophical Society, of which Professor Deguchi is the president, and was attended by approximately 90 people, including the general audience.

In addition to Professor Deguchi, Professor Takahiro Nakajima of the University of Tokyo, who will participate in the Kyoto Conference next September, and Professor Markus Gabriel of the University of Bonn, Germany, who is also a senior global advisor to the institute, gave lectures, which were followed by a Q&A session and exchange of opinions.

The theme of Professor Deguchi's lecture was “WE-turn,” which refers to recognizing the “fundamental incapability” to do anything on one's own and to always think back (turn) to the perspective that one is a member of “WE”. In his lecture, Professor Deguchi reemphasized the importance of this viewpoint, saying, “It is in the incapability to do something that the essence, dignity, and irreplaceability of human beings are found." In addition to non-human life forms such as animals, plants, and other life forms, he also advocated a “Fellowship Model” for artificial objects including AI and robots, saying, “Rather than a ‘serve/be served’ relationship that serves the unilateral interests of humans, we should establish a more equal relationship with them.

On the other hand, in his speech, Professor Nakajima added critical considerations to the “WE-turn,” pointing out that if animals and AI were given the same rights as humans, “the right not to be discarded without just cause” (anti-disposal rights), humans would not be able to eat animals, for example. Regarding the “Multilayered Society of Values” that the Institute advocates, he ordered that “the process of universalizing values, rather than falling into cultural relativism, is important,” and the discussion that followed with Professor Deguchi has shown significant depth.

Professor Gabriel also spoke on the theme of “Universality,” saying, “Today is an era of nested crises. Universal ethics is the only way to present solutions to problems,” he said.

The Kyoto Philosophical Society is an academic society dedicated to “the study of philosophy in its broadest sense and its dissemination,” and its committee members include faculty members from the “former Department of Philosophy,” primarily from the Philosophy Division in the Faculty of Letters at Kyoto University.