Myth and Ideology

The Kyoto School is the most important philosophical current in Japan during the 20th century. There is a growing interest in Japanese philosophy, as well as in non-European philosophy in general. This essay aims to conceptualize the political thought of two Japanese authors, Kiyoshi Miki (1897-1945) and Jun Tosaka (1900-1945), in dialogue with contemporary political debates for the first time. Miki and Tosaka were two leftist thinkers, especially interested in thinking about political action “from below.” In that sense, this book introduces their core concepts, explores ways to think about the interplay between practice and ideology, while still accounting for their reciprocity and dynamism.