A. Santone Jr

This book is a major early work of Japanese philosopher Wataru Hiromatsu (1933-1994). Originally published in 1972, the primary theme is overcoming the subject-object schema of modern philosophy.

Hiromatsu seeks to replace this subject-object schema with what he calls the intersubjective fourfold structure, in which ＂the given is valid as something more to someone as someone more.＂ This fourfold structure is not a sum of four independent elements, but exists only as a functional relationship. From this relationist point of view, Hiromatsu develops his philosophical theory as a systematic critique of ＂reification,＂ defined as the hypostatizing misconception of a functional relation.