As of June 1st, I am joining the editorial committee of Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences. Although I have not previously published my own work in this journal, this opportunity has motivated me to begin writing a paper that explores the intersection of embodied experience and formal structures. I also look forward to engaging with new research as a reviewer and contributing to the vibrant dialogue within this community.
https://link.springer.com/journal/11097/editorial-board
Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of participating in "Aware & Alive," a symposium held at Hokkaido University as an ASSC satellite event.
Aware & Alive (8-10th July 2024, Hokkaido University, Japan)
The gathering was a wonderful opportunity to discuss the deep connections between life and consciousness with colleagues from various fields. During the session, I gave a talk titled: "From an implicit sense of self to an explicit self-consciousness."
In this presentation, I explored the transition from our primal, bodily sense of self to the more reflective and narrative levels of self-awareness.
Enjoy!
I am pleased to announce that my new paper has been published in Japanese Psychological Research.
Tanaka, S. (2024). Hand to Face: A Phenomenological View of Body Image Development in Infants.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpr.12517
In this paper, I reconsider the development of the "body image" from a phenomenological perspective. My central proposal is that the hands are the first organ, while the face is the final organ, to be fully incorporated into an infant's body image.
Why does the face—the very center of our social identity—take the longest to be "owned" as part of our felt body? And how do the hands pave the way for this process? If you are interested in the "why" and "how" of this developmental journey, I invite you to read the full text via the DOI link above.
I hope you find the argument engaging.
Best regards,
Shogo
A paper co-authored with Dr. Atsushi Iriki has just been published in Global Perspectives.
Iriki, A., & Tanaka, S. (2024). Potential of the path integral and quantum computing for the study of humanities: An underlying principle of human evolution and the function of consciousness. Global Perspectives, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1525/gp.2024.115651
You can read the full text by clicking the DOI above. This is my first paper that deals with quantum computing and its implications in humanities. As we emphasized in it, we can expect to obtain insights into new humanities based on quantum computation, including the fields such as linguistics, psychopathology, and diverse states of consciousness. Here is the abstract of our paper.
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The “(classical) scientific view of the world” that characterizes the modern history of human civilization has been successful by objectifying nature, humans, and society, for reductive analysis into (approximate) linear causation to allow prediction and control. However, because of its growing maturity and complexity, our modern society now confronts the complexity of multilayered causal structures underlying the real phenomena, which classical science has abstracted through reductive approximation, and consequently, modern scientists are perplexed by the limitations on comprehension, predictability, and controllability. The “uncertainty principle” of quantum physics, discovered a century ago, has overthrown this classical mechanistic and deterministic worldview, but the “(quantum) scientific worldview” remained confined at the level of microscopic science and has to date never extended onward to the life-size human world. However, as practical applications of the quantum computer are now becoming realistic, it might provide us with an innovative way to manipulate such complex causal structures and open up a new era in the history of civilization. In this paper, we build ideas on our earlier research findings in the context of the evolutionary patterns of human cognition, so as to extrapolate them to advance speculations on the mechanism of the phase transition of worldviews from classical to quantum causal structure-based ones, expecting to obtain insights into practical ways of computation to realize such a transition. The paper begins with a section examining the origin of the linear approximation adopted in classical science, back casting from the evolutionary history of the (linguistic) consciousness of our human ancestors. In the next section, we show how human intelligence and civilization have in fact evolved as analog with quantum laws, and review the limitations of modern science in finding an expression of these laws in Eastern philosophy. This section proceeds to show the potential of quantum computation to not only realize a fusion of Eastern and Western approaches but also integrate the humanities and natural sciences. The final section concludes that this new framework can expand and develop the structure and function of human “consciousness” and build a bridgehead against recent “anti-scientism” that is rooted in skepticism concerning the (classical) scientific view of the world and humanity.
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Enjoy the paper!
I am pleased to share a recent article published in Philosophical Psychology, co-authored with my colleague, Katsunori Miyahara.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09515089.2023.2286281
In this paper, we bridge the gap between "narrative" and "embodied" views of the self. While these two perspectives are often discussed separately, we argue that they are deeply intertwined through the body’s habituality.
Drawing on Merleau-Ponty, we explore how our history of engaging with the world shapes the "narrating I" and the "narrated I." Our conclusion is that narrating oneself is not just a linguistic act, but a practice fundamentally embedded in our bodily existence.
Working with Katsunori was a rewarding experience, as we both share a deep interest in extending phenomenological insights into contemporary cognitive science.
You can find the full abstract below:
Narrative views of the self argue that we constitute our self in self-narratives. Embodied views hold that our self is shaped through embodied experiences. In that case, what is the relation between embodiment and narrativity in the process of self-constitution? The question demands a clear definition of embodiment, but existing studies remains unclear on this point (section 2). We offer a correction to this situation by drawing on Merleau-Ponty’s analysis of the body that highlights its habituality. On this account, the body has an inherent tendency to cultivate an organization of habits through its history of engagement with the world (section 3). Next, we explore its role in narrative self-constitution by distinguishing between two aspects of the narrative self, the narrated I and the narrating I (section 4). We argue on phenomenological grounds that self-narratives are informed by bodily perspectives in both respects. Furthermore, a focus on the habituality of the body allows for a better explanation of self-constitution than those based on implicit self-narratives (section 5). For these phenomenological and theoretical reasons, we conclude that narrative self-constitution is an embodied and embedded practice (section 6).
Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Nick Kemp from IKIGAI TRIBE.
Many of you may already know the Japanese word "Ikigai" (生きがい), which refers to that which makes one's life worth living. This concept has gained international recognition, partly through the English translation of Mieko Kamiya’s seminal book, On Ikigai.
In this interview, I attempted to explain the concepts of "Aida" (Betweenness) and "Ma" (Interval). While both terms are deeply rooted in Japanese language and culture, I believe they possess a universal dimension that resonates with people from diverse backgrounds. To illustrate this, I began my talk by connecting these concepts to the phenomenological idea of intercorporeality.
If you are interested in how our sense of self emerges through these cultural and bodily "in-betweens," you can listen to the full podcast here:
IKIGAI podcast 66: Navigating Aida and Intercorporeality with Prof. Shogo Tanaka
https://ikigaitribe.com/podcasts/podcast66/
Enjoy the conversation!
We are happy to announce that the website for IHSRC 2023 is now open!
The 40th International Human Science Research Conference is scheduled for 7 to 11 August 2023 and will be held at Tokai University Takanawa Campus, Tokyo, as an onsite event.
Please send your abstract for paper presentation by April 15th, 2023 to "ihsrc2023@gmail.com". The decision will be sent no later than May 15th.
Looking back, the 40th IHSRC was a milestone event that brought together researchers from diverse disciplines to discuss the future of human science. The onsite discussions at Tokai University were particularly vibrant, fostering a renewed sense of community after remote interaction during the pandemic.
We look forward to seeing how these discussions continue to evolve in future conferences.
All the best,
Shogo Tanaka
IHSRC 2023 Local Organizing Committee
We are going to hold an online symposium on September 23rd, 2022.
Tokai University Online Symposium "Embodied Spirituality: Meditation practices in the contemporary world" Date: September 23rd, 2022 Time: 10:00 - 12:00 CET / 17:00 - 19:00 JST
All those who are interested in embodiment and spirituality are welcome. Please follow the link below and register your name and e-mail address. You will get the webinar link after the registration.
My talk is titled "On the spiritual dimension of embodied experiences." My main idea is simple: Our bodily experiences, such as sports and dance, inherently have spiritual dimensions.
If you are interested in how the physical and the spiritual intersect, please join us!
Best,
Shogo
I am pleased to announce that I will be participating in The Embodiment Conference 2020 as a speaker. The conference will be held from October 14–25, 2020, via Zoom. It offers a wonderful opportunity to explore diverse perspectives on embodiment through a wide range of lectures and sessions.
If you are interested in the conference, you can obtain free access here:
My British colleague, Dr. Adrian Harris, has informed me that a crowdfunding campaign was recently launched. These funds will support a stable online platform for the sessions and facilitate the translation of conference materials into several languages.
As a speaker, I will be joining a panel organized by Adrian. I will provide further details as they are finalized.
Best,
Shogo
I am pleased to share that my paper on depersonalization, published last year, is now available for download. You can access it through the following link:
"What is it Like to Be Disconnected from the Body?: A Phenomenological Account of Disembodiment in Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder"
[Journal of特 Consciousness Studies, Vol. 25, No. 5-6]
As outlined in the abstract, this paper examines the experience of disembodiment in depersonalization disorder, with a specific focus on the minimal self.
I believe this work will be of interest to those specialized in the phenomenology of embodiment, phenomenological psychopathology, and the philosophy of psychiatry.
I hope you find the paper insightful.
Best,
Shogo
I am pleased to announce that my latest chapter will be featured in the upcoming book, Thinking About Oneself: The Place and Value of Reflection in Philosophy and Psychology, edited by Waldomiro J. Silva Filho and Luca Tateo (Springer).
Book Details:
Title: Thinking About Oneself: The Place and Value of Reflection in Philosophy and Psychology
Series: Philosophical Studies Series
Publisher: Springer
Chapter 9: Bodily origin of self-reflection and its socially extended aspects Shogo Tanaka (Tokai University)
While we often presuppose that reflection is a purely mental act—a tradition stemming from Descartes—I argue that its true origin lies in our bodily experience.
In this chapter, I provide a genetic account of self-reflection through the lens of phenomenology and cognitive science. While traditional phenomenology often focuses on the body as a "subject" of action, I explore the "body-as-object." Our ability to perceive our own body as an intentional object precedes and underpins the psychological experience of self-reflection.
Furthermore, I discuss how this "body-as-object" is shared with others, extending the act of reflection into the realms of intersubjectivity, empathy, and social anxiety. Ultimately, the analysis suggests that being a self-reflective agent and being a social agent are two sides of the same coin.
I hope you find the perspective insightful.
Best regards,
Shogo
I am pleased to share a new contribution to the field of cultural psychology, recently published by Routledge:
Book Details:
Title: The Challenges of Cultural Psychology: Historical Legacies and Future Responsibilities
Editors: Gordana Jovanović, Lars Allolio-Näcke, and Carl Ratner
Publisher: Routledge (2018)
This volume offers a comprehensive look at the historical foundations and future directions of cultural psychology. My contribution focuses on a re-examination of the Japanese self.
Chapter 17: The Self in Japanese Culture from an Embodied Perspective Shogo Tanaka (Tokai University)
In this chapter, I aim to move beyond the traditional "West vs. East" dichotomy that has long dominated cross-cultural psychology.
While existing literature often defines the Japanese self as "interdependent," "collective," or "relationship-dependent," I propose that these characteristics can be better understood through the lens of embodiment. By shifting the focus to the embodied mind—a paradigm that has radically changed the cognitive sciences since the 1990s—we can find a more universal path to understanding the self.
If the self is fundamentally embodied, then "independence" and "interdependence" are not merely cultural labels, but different ways an embodied self can be constituted regardless of background.
This chapter may be of particular interest to those exploring the intersection of phenomenology, embodiment, and culture. If you would like to discuss these themes further, please feel free to reach out.
Best,
Shogo
I am happy to announce that my new paper on embodiment has been published in Human Arenas (Springer).
Paper Details:
Title: Bodily basis of the diverse modes of the self
Journal: Human Arenas, 1, 223-230 (2018)
In this paper, I argue that bodily experiences underpin all facets of the mind—from pre-reflective action to social and individualistic modes of being. I explore the self through three distinct bodily dimensions:
Body-as-subject (The body as the "I" that acts)
Body-as-object for oneself (The body as something we observe)
Body-as-object for others (The body as it appears in the social world)
In the final section, I use the everyday experience of wearing clothes as a concrete example. Drawing on personal experience, I describe how clothing illustrates the complexity and dynamism of the self’s relationship with the body.
While this "phenomenology of clothing" is still in its early stages, I believe it is a promising area for further inquiry. If you are interested in exploring this topic or developing these ideas together, please let me know—I would welcome the conversation!
Regards,
Shogo