Kokichi Kano

Philosopher. Born in Odate, Dewa Province (Akita Prefecture). Graduated from the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Imperial University in 1888 (Meiji 21), and then from the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Letters, the same university in 1891. Established the school's spirit as the principal of First Higher School from 1898 to 1906 (Meiji 39). Later, became a professor at Kyoto Imperial University and president of the Faculty of Letters. He remained single all his life and was known for his eccentric, unworldly behavior, but he was also erudite and knowledgeable, and studied ethics from the standpoint of a naturalist and atheist. He was also a pioneering researcher in the history of natural science thought in Japan, and introduced Ando Shoeki to the world. In 1895, he introduced Shizuki Tadao's "Illustration of the Division of Chaos" in his "Rekisho Shinsho," giving it a higher evaluation than "Kanto-Laplace's Nebula Theory." After he retired from Kyoto Imperial University in 1908, he lost his fortune by investing in a junior colleague's business, and he sold his vast collection of books, including valuable books he had collected over the years, and died in poverty. His collection is kept at Tohoku University as the "Kano Library."

[Toshihiko Kikuchi, August 19, 2016]

"Abe Yoshinari (ed.) 'Kano Tokichi's Writings' (1958, Iwanami Shoten)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哲学者。出羽(でわ)国大館(おおだて)（秋田県）の生まれ。1888年（明治21）帝国大学理科大学数学科、ついで1891年同大学文科大学哲学科を卒業。1898年から1906年（明治39）まで第一高等学校校長としてその校風を築いた。その後、京都帝国大学教授、同大学文科大学学長となった。生涯独身で過ごし、脱俗的奇行の持ち主として知られたが、博学多識で、自然主義者、無神論者の立場から倫理学を研究した。また日本の自然科学思想史の先駆的研究者であり、安藤昌益(あんどうしょうえき)を世に紹介し、また1895年には志筑忠雄(しづきただお)の『暦象新書』中の「混沌(こんとん)分判図説」を紹介し、「カント‐ラプラスの星雲説」に勝る評価を与えるなどした。1908年、京都帝大退職後、後輩の事業に出資して財を失い、長年にわたって収集した貴重本を含む膨大な蔵書も売却し貧窮のうちに没した。彼の蔵書は「狩野文庫」として東北大学に所蔵されている。

［菊池俊彦　2016年8月19日］

『安倍能成編『狩野亨吉遺文集』（1958・岩波書店）』

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