As of 2023, it would be instructive to learn what happened during the Meiji Restoration. Because it is an example of how rapid technological development has brought about major changes in society.
I couldn’t think of a good starting point for what to learn, so I had GPT4 make one and he told me an interesting story.
Specific episodes from the Meiji Restoration that can be applied to today’s world, where advanced AI is being created.
The Meiji Restoration was a period of rapid modernization in Japan from the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate to the Meiji Era, when Japan became more competitive internationally by actively incorporating technology and knowledge from foreign countries. The following is an episode that can be applied to today’s age of advanced AI: “The exchange between Kaishu Katsu and Yukichi Fukuzawa”.
- Kaishu Katsu and Yukichi Fukuzawa were both great Japanese figures active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji Restoration, and had a major impact on Japan’s efforts to modernize. Kaishu Katsu was instrumental in strengthening Japan’s naval power and contributed to the modernization of the country. Yukichi Fukuzawa, on the other hand, was an Enlightenment thinker, famous for his preaching of the importance of adopting Western knowledge.
- Despite their different positions and areas of expertise, they formed a friendship and influenced each other because of their common goal to modernize Japan. Their interactions demonstrate how experts from different fields working together to incorporate new technologies and knowledge can contribute to the development of a nation.
- Modern advanced AI technologies can also learn from this episode. More innovative AI technologies can be created when experts from different fields cooperate and combine different knowledge and technologies. Another lesson that can be learned from the Meiji Restoration period to the present day is that incorporating technology and knowledge from other countries is important for competitiveness.
A brief, bullet-pointed introduction to each of their two philosophies.
- The Philosophy of Kaisyu Katsu:.
- Strengthening Naval Power: We felt it was important to develop a strong navy for the security and modernization of Japan.
- Importance of External Negotiations: We recognized the need for diplomatic skills to help Japan adapt to the international community and build relationships with foreign countries.
- Survival of the Nation: For the future of Japan, the emphasis was on reconciling the old shogunate forces with the new government to achieve national unity.
- Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Thought:.
- Introduction of Western knowledge and technology: In order to achieve Japan’s modernization, he argued that Japan should actively incorporate Western knowledge and technology.
- Enlightenment philosophy: Individual independence and the importance of thinking and acting for oneself were Enlightenment ideas.
- Importance of Education: Believing that raising the level of education of the people would directly lead to the development of the nation, he focused on educational projects by founding Keio Gijuku.
The ideas of Kaishu Katsu and Yukichi Fukuzawa are connected in several ways. The main connection can be found in their shared goal of modernizing and internationalizing Japan, and in their methodologies for achieving that goal.
- Modernization Efforts: Both men wanted to modernize Japan and believed it was important to incorporate Western technology and knowledge. Katsu Kaishu contributed to modernization through the strengthening of Japan’s naval power, while Yukichi Fukuzawa contributed through education and the Enlightenment.
- Promoting Internationalization: Both recognized that Japan needed to strengthen its external negotiations and diplomatic capabilities in order to adapt and stand on its own feet in the international community. Kaishu Katsu conducted diplomatic negotiations, while Yukichi Fukuzawa promoted the internationalization of Japan through the introduction of Western knowledge and technology.
- Individual Independence and National Development: While Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Enlightenment philosophy emphasized individual independence, Katsu Kaishu also emphasized the importance of individuals taking positive action for the survival and development of the nation. In this respect, too, their philosophies have much in common.
- Thus, the ideas of Kaishu Katsu and Yukichi Fukuzawa were working in different fields, each with a common goal of modernizing and internationalizing Japan. Their exchange allowed them to share each other’s knowledge and experiences and contribute to the modernization of Japan.
relevance - developing new ideas based on study of the past
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