Although it is the human condition to be taken care of by others, to care
for them, it is inevitable that we face certain difficulties. On the one hand,
such care can allow close contact with others, while, on the other hand, it
can increase the risk of uncomfortable situations or even violence. Because of
such complicated aspects providing(or receiving)care should be considered
one of basic issues of philosophy.
The Japanese Philosopher Kitarō Nishida classified the fundamental
types of the “self-understanding” into the “acting self” and the “known self.” However, he rejected the “known self” and prescribed the “acting self” as
the true self. Meanwhile, most discussions on the difficulties of providing
(or receiving)care have their basis in the viewpoint of the “known self”.
Although this perspective objectively focuses on such problems and how to
cope with them, it can be seen quite differently when researched from the
viewpoint of the “acting self.”
Thus, the purpose of this study is two-fold. First, it explains the
original significance of the “acting self” considering a concrete instance of
care. Second, this article suggests new possibilities for how such care can be
provided(or received)by researching its structure from the perspective of
the “acting self.” Consequently, Nishida's thought can help us question how
we can become good caregivers.
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