QUESTIONS FOR NISHITANI

1. What does “ego of the Cartesian type” mean? (p. 13 and notes)

2. What is Nishitani’s main objection to “cogito, ergo sum”? (p14 top and middle – the “eye” example 152)

3. What are two big problems associated with thinking of the self as “self-centered”? (bottom 14, top 15)

4. What does Nishitani suggest needs to be done in order to gain a better understanding of the self? i.e. does Descartes’ doubting go far enough? (middle 15, bottom 15)

5. Describe the “Great Doubt”? (top 16, bottom 17, bottom 18)

6. What does Nishitani mean when he says, “nihility” and “nullify”? (middle 16, top and middle 17)

7. How does Watsuji Tetsuro describe the self/individual? (101/102) And, how does this tie into Nishitani’s argument? (think about how we can understand identity if we are not an “ego of the Cartesian type”)

HW - 3 page paper - double spaced, typed, name at the end