Miki Kiyoshi's The Logic of Imagination - (Bloomsbury Introductions to World Philosophies) by Kiyoshi Miki (Hardcover)

About the Book

"One of the central figures in the Kyoto School, Miki Kiyoshi wrote Logic of Imagination as a series of articles between 1937 and 1943. Translating this seminal work into English for the first time, with contextual notes throughout, this book features an introduction and biographical information about the author. Miki's thinking about the imagination illuminates our contemporary understanding of technology and how we behave in the world"--

Book Synopsis

The Japanese philosopherMiki Kiyoshi opens doors to all those interested in rethinking the problem of imagination, myth, and technology.

Miki Kiyoshi is one of the central figures in the Kyoto School, often spoken of as the heir of Kitaro Nishida. Born in Japan in 1897, he died in prison shortly after the end of World War II in 1945 at the age of 48.

Miki's The Logic of Imagination first appeared in the journal Thought in 1937 under the themes of "Myth," "Institution," and "Technology". The next part, "Experience," was serialized in the same journal and Miki continued to work on the final part, but was never completed it due to his arrest.

This translation makes this seminal work available in English for the first time. Featuring an introduction and accompanied throughout by contextual notes, it includes essential information about Miki's life and work. Miki's philosophy of the imagination anticipated later theories found first in Hannah Arendt, and then in Paul Ricoeur and most recently in Charles Taylor. The connection Miki makes of the imagination with technology anticipates ideas of the technological imagination in Don Ihde and Bernard Stiegler.

Miki's thinking about the imagination illuminates our understanding of technology and how we behave in the world. This accessible, critical edition of his work does justice to one of the most unfairly underrated authors of Japanese philosophy.

Review Quotes

At last the magnum opus of one of Japan's most renowned and influential modern philosophers is available to English readers. Miki Kiyoshi's The Logic of Imagination is skillfully translated and informatively introduced by John Krummel, one of the leading scholars in the field.
Bret W. Davis, Professor and Higgins Chair in Philosophy, Loyola University Maryland, USA

Hurrah! The first, English language publication of Miki Kyoshi's The Logic of Imagination is here! First published as a series of essays in the late 1930s and early 1940s, this highly significant text elaborates a distinctive philosophy of the imagination that emerges after enduring encounters with Nishida, Heidegger, and Marx in the final years of Miki's life. Superbly introduced and translated by John Krummel, himself a noted scholar of Japanese philosophy, Miki's The Logic of Imagination is a must read for all those interested in questions of the imagination, creativity, technology, institution, and the human condition.
Suzi Adams, Researcher, Flinders University, Australia; Co-Managing Editor, International Journal of Social Imaginaries

This long-awaited English translation of Miki Kiyoshi's magnum opus, accompanied with the translator's critical introduction and contextual notes, will lead to a significantly deeper understanding of Japanese philosophy and the Kyoto School in the English-speaking world as well as provide new impetus for further research on philosophy of imagination and social imaginaries, philosophy of culture and philosophy of technology, as well as comparative philosophy.
Saulius Geniusas, Professor/Chair, Department of Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

About the Author

Kiyoshi Miki (1897-1945) was a key member of the Kyoto School. He was a literary critic, scholar and university professor of philosophy.

John W.M. Krummel is Associate Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, USA.