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Akira Yamada

やまだ あきら

Yamada Akira

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1922-03-07 （Suwa, Nagano, Japan）
Died
2008-02-29 （Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan） age 85
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
Roman Catholic
Residence History
Suwa, Nagano, Japan (birthplace) → Kyoto (Kyoto University) → Osaka (Osaka City University) → Nagoya (Nanzan University) → Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan (died)

Career

Occupations
Philosopher, University professor, Translator
Active Years
1951-2008
Affiliations
Osaka City University, Faculty of Letters, Kyoto University, Faculty of Letters, Nanzan University, Faculty of Letters, The Japan Academy
Memberships
Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University, Member of The Japan Academy
Influenced By
Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Tokuritsu Yamauchi

Education

Kyoto Imperial University (now Kyoto University)
Faculty of Letters / Department of Philosophy
Degree: 学士
Period: 1940年代（卒業 1944年）
Year of Graduation: 1944
Country: Japan

Awards

Daibutsu Jirō Prize
1987
Work: Lectures on Augustine
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Lectures on Augustine

1986 Philosophy; Lectures; Commentary

A collection of lectures and commentaries on Augustine's thought, presenting theological themes and issues in medieval philosophy in an accessible manner.

AugustineTheologyMedieval philosophy

Fundamental Problems of Augustine — Medieval Philosophy Studies I

1977 Scholarly research (Medieval philosophy)

A scholarly study discussing fundamental problems in medieval philosophy through research on Augustine.

Medieval philosophyAugustine studies

Study of 'Esse' in Thomas Aquinas — Medieval Philosophy Studies II

1978 Scholarly research (Medieval philosophy)

A detailed study on Thomas Aquinas's ontology (esse).

Thomas AquinasOntologyMedieval philosophy

That Which Is — Medieval Philosophy Studies III

1979 Scholarly research (Medieval philosophy)

Essays on existence and essence in medieval philosophy.

OntologyEssenceMedieval philosophy

Study of 'Res' in Thomas Aquinas — Medieval Philosophy Studies IV

1986 Scholarly research (Medieval philosophy)

Considerations on the concept of 'res' (thing) in Thomas Aquinas.

Thomas AquinasMetaphysicsMedieval philosophy

Christology of Thomas Aquinas

1999 Scholarly research (Theology, Medieval philosophy)

A monograph examining Christological issues in Thomas Aquinas's thought.

ChristologyThomas AquinasTheology

Lectures on Medieval Philosophy (edited)

2021 Lecture collection / edited

Edited collection of Akira Yamada's lectures and materials compiled by Shinsuke Kawazoe, Yoshinobu Ohama and Hidemi Mizuta.

Medieval philosophyLecture collection

Bibliography

  • Fundamental Problems of Augustine — Medieval Philosophy Studies I (1977)
  • Study of 'Esse' in Thomas Aquinas — Medieval Philosophy Studies II (1978)
  • That Which Is — Medieval Philosophy Studies III (1979)
  • Study of 'Res' in Thomas Aquinas — Medieval Philosophy Studies IV (1986)
  • Lectures on Augustine (1986)
  • Christology of Thomas Aquinas (1999)
  • Augustine: Confessions (translation, notes; 1968)
  • Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae (translation and annotations, portions; 1965-2003)
  • Lectures on Medieval Philosophy (5 vols., edited, 2021-2022)

Translations by Author

  • Augustine: Confessions (translation, notes and commentary)
  • Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae (translation and annotations; partial contributions, 1965-2003)
  • François Châtelet: A History of Philosophy II — Medieval Philosophy (supervising editor/translator, 1976)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Analytical, exegetical academic proseLecture-style clear exposition
Recurring Motifs
Medieval philosophyAugustine studiesThomas Aquinas studiesIntersection of theology and philosophy

Health

  • Malignant lymphoma
    2008（逝去）
    Died in February 2008 of malignant lymphoma; academic activities ceased.

Legacy

A leading scholar of medieval philosophy in Japan who popularized and deepened research on Augustine and Thomas Aquinas through translations and commentaries. He taught at Kyoto University for many years and mentored numerous scholars.

Academic Societies

  • The Japan Academy

Archives

  • Kyoto University Library (possible holdings of related materials)
  • The Japan Academy (possible archival materials)

Trivia

  • Winner of the 14th Daibutsu Jirō Prize (1987) for 'Lectures on Augustine'
  • Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University
  • Member of The Japan Academy
  • Graduated from Kyoto Imperial University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Philosophy (1944)
  • Known for annotated translations of works such as Augustine's 'Confessions' and parts of Aquinas's 'Summa Theologiae'