近代化と日本的「平等」観

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書誌事項

タイトル別名
  • Modernizatiton and the Conception of ‘Equality’ in Japan
  • キンダイカ ト ニホンテキ ビョウドウ カン

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抄録

From sociological perspective, every idea has its social context. So is the idea of equality. The purpose of this paper is to analyse how the idea of equality is conceived in Japan and its relation to its modernization.<br>　There are, logically speaking, three dimensions of equality: equality of conditions (including equality before the law) , equality of means (or equality of opportunity) , and equality of outcomes.<br>　Additionaly, comparative studies show the difference of the view on natural abilities between the United States and Japan. Americans take the view that natural abilities are inequally gifted, whereas Japanese take the view that they are equally gifted, and that one can do anything with maximum efforts.　And from historical perspective, the status-group system in Japan attracts our attention. Tokugawa regime was characterized by its dual structure, that is, the principle of acievement or meritocracy, on one hand, and the principle of hereditary hierarchy of status-groups, on the other hand.<br>　To analyze a political pamphlet 'Non-hereditary Aristocracy (Ichidai Kazoku Ron) ' written by a Meiji statesman Taisuke Itagaki demonstrates that the dual structure had survived in Meiji era even after the status-group system as the political regime was abolished.<br>　To conclude, the context of equality in Japan consists of the view that natural abilities are equally gifted in combination with the dual structure on equality, which contrasts with the American view that they are inequally gifted in combination with equality of opportunity which is the dominant norm in the United States.

収録刊行物

  • ソシオロジ

    ソシオロジ 38 (2), 37-52,106, 1993

    社会学研究会

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