Recently published German edition of the Unger-Ikeda dialogue
FREIBURG, Germany: The publisher Verlag Herder has released a German edition of The Humanist Principle: On Compassion and Tolerance, a dialogue between Dr. Felix Unger, an Austrian pioneer of cardiovascular medicine and honorary president of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) in Vienna, and Daisaku Ikeda (1928–2023).
EASA is an association committed to
promoting scientific and societal progress and comprises leading scientists and
professionals from various fields dedicated to innovative research,
interdisciplinary and transnational collaboration and the exchange and dissemination
of knowledge. In March 1997, Mr. Ikeda was named an honorary member of EASA,
the first Japanese recipient of such honor from the Academy.
The Ungers and the Ikedas engaging in a friendly discussion (Hachioji, Tokyo, July 1997)
The dialogue between
Dr. Unger and Mr. Ikeda began in Tokyo in July 1997 and continued through
subsequent meetings in 2000 and 2001, followed by a series of written
correspondences. In their dialogue, the authors exchange insights on how to
establish a society of coexistence in which globalization and scientific
technology continue to advance. They discuss the role of religion and science,
touching on topics such as interfaith dialogue, the spirit of tolerance, global
environmental issues, health, medicine and ethics.
On the topic of religion and tolerance, Mr.
Ikeda states:
“The virtue of
tolerance is a vital issue of concern in this time of globalization and new
encounters. . . . Getting to know our neighbors in the global village, we
experience and are moved by diverse cultures and customs. Though very great
differences are sometimes hard to bear, the world is coming closer and closer
together with the result that we have no choice but to get along with our new
neighbors. In these circumstances, tolerance is essential.”
In response to Mr. Ikeda, Dr. Unger remarks
on the rich complexities and connotations contained in the word “tolerance,” and
says:
“Tolerance is
very active and very personal. It arises from discussions with others and
presupposes a civilized viewpoint. It is the process in which I go out of
myself to speak with others. . . . When one opinion comes into real exchange
with another, a third new opinion emerges, providing a starting point for
further discussions. . . . In any case,
tolerance is a spiritual service to another. It is an active form of coexistence
in which I identify with and feel responsible for my fellows. Encounters with
others lead to the greatest discoveries and maximum contributions to humanity.”
The completion of the German version will
undoubtedly serve as a guide for more people to explore pathways to a hopeful
future.
[Adapted from an
article in the April 23, 2024, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
