ESISIGE Kodzai

Kodzai Esisige (1901 - 1990) - Marxist philosopher, social activist. He studied at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tokyo, where he began studying the philosophy of Hegel, as well as works of Marxist philosophy. In 1933. joined the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ), translated the Soviet philosophical and political literature. In the mid 30-ies. with other progressive philosophers active in the Society for the Study of materialism, has promoted the works of classics of Marxism-Leninism among workers. In 1933 and 1938. been arrested. In 1945, Mr.. after CPJ underground Kodzai wrote articles in which sharply criticized the idealist philosophy. In 1948, Mr.. Kodzai publishes a collection of his pre-war article entitled "Five-perceptions", in which it is based on the provisions of VI. Lenin on the unity of dialectics, logic and theory of knowledge. In subsequent works ( "Lenin and the Japanese materialism", . 1959, . and others) Kodzai examines the history of the origins and development of materialist philosophy in Japan, . considers the main issues of philosophy of Marxism, . explores the problem of the correlation of humanism and socialism,
. Kodzai made a significant contribution to the critique of nationalist concepts Japanism, in particular the concept of "Japanese spirit" ( "Notes on the" spirit of Yamato ", 1969, and others). Active participant in the peace movement.