著者

野村 洋平

出版者

龍谷大学

雑誌

龍谷大学社会学部紀要 (ISSN:0919116X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.43, pp.64-76, 2013-11-15

著者

野村 洋平

出版者

社会学研究会

雑誌

ソシオロジ (ISSN:05841380)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.51, no.1, pp.3-18,214, 2006-05-31 (Released:2016-03-23)

参考文献数

27

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This article aims to introduce a new idea of "innocence" to the field of child studies, making use of the thoughts of Emmanuel Levinas and Franz Kafka to shed new light on some of the problems faced by both children and adults in the modern society. Conventional child studies fundamentally lack the perspective whereby a child is seen as what Levinas calls "I'autre (I'autrui)." Levinas emphasizes the importance of "face-a-face" with "Vabsolument autre" as distinguished from a relative other, through the sensitivity of "vulnerability." "Innocence" is a form of power which "infini" takes in a society, a "lotalite" which cannot subsume "infini." When "innocence" enters a society, that society cannot understand nor subsume it (because this "innocence" is one attribute of "infini"'). We must use the sensitivity of "vulnerabilite" to perceive "innocence" coming from "infini." Then we will be able to experience a "face-a-face" encounter with "I'autre (I'autrui)" for the first time. One who can perceive "innocence" through "vulnerability" can receive a power from "infini." Such a person can then become an agent who prompts others to experience "trans-socialization," a new dimension beyond socialization. Franz Kafka was one such person who had a special sensitivity of "vulnerabilite." He was extremely sensitive to "innocence," which made him a superior agent for "trans-socialization". Social problems like bullying, hikikomori (withdrawal from society) and child abuse are possibly caused by our failure to become aware of the sensitivity of "vulnerabilite" and the power of "innocence."