Nothingness in Nishida and Aquinas: Mu as Disjointed Human Person and as Unnoticed Ipsum Esse Subsistens

Abstract

In this paper, I examine Japanese Kyoto School philosopher Nishida Kitar?’s use of mu (nothingness) in comparison with the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas to show where, and how, Nishida equivocates on mu on Thomistic grounds, conflating it sometimes with the human person as principle of knowledge and at other times with the Catholic God as ipsum esse subsistens. I conclude by bringing in St. Thomas Aquinas’ works in response to some of Nishida’s speculations about “nothingness,” suggesting how a reading of Nishida alongside St. Thomas can shed new light on the problems of being and nothingness.