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Evolution, Culture and Kokoro: Exploring Kokoro from Biological and Social Perspectives
(Nature and Body Research Domain)

Project Leader
Kai Hiraishi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University

Collaborators from the Kokoro Research Center
Yukiko Uchida, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University
Kosuke Takemura, Program-specific Researcher, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University


Human, human being, humankind, person, people, homo sapiens -- these are just some of the many words that describe the existence of humankind. The state of kokoro (human mind) must be equally multilayered. To understand the multilayered nature of human existence, we must see humans as living organisms; as evolutionary beings on the same level as non-humans. On the other hand, it is also important to study humankind from the viewpoint of culture created by human society and the humankind that develops through bonds, perceiving humankind within the artificiality called culture. These two perspectives of nature and artificiality are often considered contradictory. Yet, if culture is a production of humankind, there must be a way of understanding the two different views in an integrated manner. This research project aims to explore the framework for an integrated understanding of evolutionary psychology, which views humankind from a biological perspective, and cultural psychology, which views humankind from a cultural perspective. It is expected that the research will lead to understanding of kokoro more comprehensively. Perceptions of human existence obtained through the process will hopefully serve as important basic knowledge in exploring how we should address a host of social and environmental issues that we face today.