The recent reformation of universities in Japan, which has specifically targeted the general education faculties in order to break them up, has radically reduced the number of posts of professors of philosophy. Moreover, in reformed universities, where the history of western philosophy as a subject of general education seems to have lost its place in the curriculum, many professors of philosophy who once belonged to general education faculties have been obliged to shift their research subjects in order to adapt themselves to these new conditions. My view is based on lessons drawn from my personal experience as one of these professors. In this difficult situation, I propose that one should listen to the voices of students more attentively to find out philosophical problems latent in the difficulties they find themselves in, so that one can estimate the importance of philosophy in the university educational system from their viewpoint. This kind of practice may benefit not only the students, but also, it seems to me, the future of Japanese philosophy. This is because it will draw the attention of professional philosophers more forcefully to actual problems and open the way to an applied philosophy for which there is a need in our society.
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