1st Edition

Japanese Family and Society Words from Tongo Takebe, A Meiji Era Sociologist

    282 Pages
    by Routledge

    282 Pages
    by Routledge

    An accurate, thought provoking translation of original work from sociologist pioneer Tongo Takebe

    Today's sociology education emphasizes multiculturalism, yet most of the views originate from Judeo-Christian perspectives that can limit insight and understanding. Japanese Family and Society: Words from Tongo Takebe, A Meiji Era Sociologist presents a carefully edited, accurate translation by Teruhito Sako of original work from the early Japanese sociologist Tongo Takebe. His unique viewpoint sheds light on both Eastern and Western perspectives used to describe societal development and a classification system of knowledge. This easily understandable source retains the essences of this classical Japanese social theorist's work while giving an excellent overview of Eastern and Western social theory and philosophy and discussion of major scientific advances from the earliest eras until 1900.

    Japanese Family and Society is a translation of Takebe’s General Sociology: Introduction (1904, Volume 1) and an excerpt from General Sociology: Social Statistics (1909, Volume 3). In Volume 1, Takebe reviews the accomplishments of major Eastern and Western scholars. Systematically, Takebe discusses the major scientific advances in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, history, economics, philosophy, anthropology, political science, and sociology to develop criteria for a classification system of knowledge. In the excerpt from Volume 3, Takebe discusses family relationships. In these translations, Takebe focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of both Eastern and Western viewpoints of societal development in which he demonstrates the advantages of combining these perspectives.

    Topics in Japanese Family and Society include:

    • a brief history of Japanese society
    • early Japanese sociologists
    • a biography of Tongo Takebe
    • theoretical introduction to sociology, sociology’s problems, and methodology
    • historical introduction to the sociological ideas in Japan, China, Indian thought, Ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, and the Modern era
    • the rise of socialism
    • major accomplishments in various disciplines
    • family organization, including marital relationships, parent-child relationships, sibling relationships, and others
    • much more

    Japanese Family and Society can be used as a text or supplemental text for upper level undergraduate courses in social theory, sociology, philosophy, history, and social science.

    About the Editors Foreword (S. Alexander Takeuchi) Preface (Toshio Tatara) Collaboration and Acknowledgments PART I: OVERVIEW OF JAPANESE HISTORY AND SOCIOLOGY I.1. Society and Family: A Brief Overview of the History of Japan (Suzanne K. Steinmetz) Paleolithic Japan Mesolithic Japan Neolithic Japan: Cross-Cultural Contact and a Written Language Aristocracy, Buddhist Priests, and Shoguns: The Struggle for Control The End of Civil Strife and Reunification Family Conclusion I.2. The Founding Fathers of Japanese Sociology (Teruhito Sako) Early Japanese Sociologists The Life of Tongo Takebe PART II: THEORETICAL INTRODUCTION II.1. Society (Tongo Takebe) Introduction What Is Society? Society Is a Fact Society Is a Body Society Is an Organism Society Is a Body That Has Consciousness Social Body Has Its Own Personality The Status of Society in the Universe The Conception of Society II.2. Sociology (Tongo Takebe) Study Hierarchy of Sciences Philosophy and Science System of Sciences Definition of Sociology I. Ontological Classification of the Types of Sociological Study II. Classification of Sociologies by the Aims and Motives II.3. Problems and System (Tongo Takebe) Subjects and Problems The Problems of Sociology Problems and System A System of Sociology General Sociology II.4. Methodology (Tongo Takebe) General Methodology Commonly Accepted Methods Particularly Sociological Methods Subjective-Rational Method Objective-Empirical Method Collection of Data Use of Ideas PART III: HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION III.1. General Remarks on Historical Study (Tongo Takebe) Historical Study Data of the History of Sociology The Genesis and Development of Sociology III.2. Historical Sources of Sociology (Tongo Takebe) Sociological Ideas in Japan Sociological Ideas in China Confucianism Sociological Ideas in Indian Thought Sociological Ideas in the Ancient Greece Sociological Ideas in the Medieval Europe Sociological Ideas in the Modern Era III.3. The Formation of Sociology (Tongo Takebe) The Cause of the Rise of Sociology The Rise of Socialism Advancement of Natural Science: The Theory of Energy Advancement of Natural Science: The Theory of Evolution The Advancement of Philosophy The Advancement of Historical Studies The Advancement of Economics The Advancement of Political and Legal Science August Comte Sociology After Comte III.4. The Future of Sociology (Tongo Takebe) The Meiji Era Limitation in the Current Study of Humanity The Future of Sociology PART IV: FAMILY ORGANIZATION IV.1. The Family (Tongo Takebe) Foreword Forms of Marriage The Forms of Marital Relationships Functions of Marital Relationships Forms of Parent-Child Relationship Functions of Parent-Child Relationships Brotherhood (Sibling Relationships) Clan Relationships The Relationship Between Family and Society The Social Status of Women Notes References Index

    Biography

    Phil Barker, Teruhito Sako, Suzanne K Steinmetz