This lecture considers the kinds of problems that existed in Shuzo Kuki\u27s life and how they influenced his philosophy. Centrally, The experience of his mother\u27s misery was crucial to his work on the problem of contingency. When humans who periodically bear such a tragic reality, how can (or should) a person live in that reality ? Kuki\u27s philosophy contains an answer to precisely this question. Kuki concludes that contingency should be understood as fate. Kuki\u27s idea is that through subjective will meaningless contingencies should be given meanings. The lecture concludes by showing how Kuki\u27s philosophy has contemporary significance
