Abstract

Today; globalization is still far from creating a picture in our minds about an integrated global society with certain common values and ethics. However; the exchange and flow of people; goods; money; information and images are emerging on a transnational level and; in this global sphere; some values of dominant-particularity with pseudo-universality have prevailed. Most of these values originated in Western societies. This paper presents a tentative outline of alternative common values in the new global sphere; with reference to Japanese religions; especially Buddhist ideas; making comparison with modern rationalism that originated in the West. In the globalization process of human society; those values and norms which have been formed at the nation-state level become relativized and lead to the fluidity and instability of cultural identities. Furthermore; it also becomes clear that such dominant values based on modern rationalism have revealed their limitations. Hence; we need to search for alternative values common to all human beings. In this line of thought; it is useful to consider the possibilities or potentialities of Buddhist ideas as common values.