The Putative Unity of the West: On Anthropological Difference

The modern world's international landscape is shaped by an investment in anthropological difference since the emergence of "Europe" in the early modern era. This difference, distinguishing humanitas from anthropos, is anticipatory, guiding humanity's path as a regulative idea rather than a factual norm. It consolidates dichotomies such as Europe/Asia, West/Rest, and white/colored, fostering intricate affiliations. This lecture delves into the identity politics of whiteness, where individuals invest in European culture, Western civilization, and a race devoid of color. However, true belonging remains putative, only realized through contrast with the non-European, non-Western, and non-white.
Speaker
SAKAI Naoki
(Tokyo College Professor, Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University)
Commentator:
NAKAJIMA Takahiro (Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo)
Moderator:
Hannah DAHLBERG-DODD (Project Assistant Professor, Tokyo College)
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Tokyo College invites leading researchers and intellectuals from around the globe to come together and engage in open discussions about the future of society.
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