Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 188-213).

This paper relates to Franco-Japanese relations between 1932 and 1945 in East Asia. In order to do this, it examines French behavior towards the Japanese in Shanghai and Indochina, France's position during incidents such as the 1932 Shanghai Incident, its policy during the Sino-Japanese conflict as well as its changing role and position in East Asia during the 1930s and 1940s, especially with the changes brought upon by the Second World War. This paper also pays attention to how France, as well as other Western nations, viewed Japan and East Asia, as well as how it affected East-West relations during this period. Finally, the paper describes the complex relations that existed between Vichy France, Free France, Indochina as well as Japan. It ends with events such at the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, that led to the eventual Japanese takeover of French territories in East Asia and the irreparable damage to France's position in East Asia.

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Mori Arimasa (森有正, 1911-1976) a élaboré à partir de son propre cheminement ce qu’il est convenu d’appeler sa philosophie de l’« expérience ». Elle inscrit ses développements dans la comparaison culturelle Europe - Japon, notamment au travers de la distinction « expérience » (経験) / « vécu » (体験). Dans notre travail, nous mettons en question les développements comme les fruits de cette philosophie de l’« expérience ». Pour ce faire, nous commençons par présenter une biographie de l’auteur. Dans un deuxième temps, nous proposons une présentation critique de sa philosophie de l’« expérience », qui selon nous reprend les problèmes de la pensée dichotomiste classique (de Descartes à Bergson) qui renferme un profond mysticisme. La confrontation culturelle entre le Japon et l’Europe est directement tributaire de cette aporie, combinée à une vision partiale : il y a ainsi une bonne « expérience » occidentale et un mauvais « vécu » japonais. Mori se positionne donc en marge de son époque, qui essayait de mettre en question l’hégémonie occidentale et de défendre la pluralité des cultures. Enfin, nous proposons une traduction commentée d’Expérience et Pensée (『経験と思想』, 1970-1972). Miné par les contradictions, les préjugés et le désespoir, Mori échoue finalement à proposer une voie positive pour le Japon. Dans le commentaire à la traduction, nous essayons de rediriger la philosophie de l’« expérience » vers une voie plus positive. / From his own path, Mori Arimasa (森有正, 1911-1976) developed his so-called philosophy of “experience”. His philosophy eventually grew into an intercultural comparison model, the dualism of two forms of experience, keiken (経験) and taiken (体験). In this study, we tried to challenge the development and the fruits of this philosophy of “experience”. We started with a biography of the author. Then we presented his thought around “experience”, which we think inherit the problems of the dichotomous vision of reality, which cross the French classical philosophy from Descartes to Bergson. The confrontation between Europe and Japan is directly dependent on this dualistic view, which has no solution to offer instead mysticism, and combined with the partial judgment of the author, coming from his own personal life. Finally, in his thought, the “good” western experience is pushed against the “bad” Japanese experience. Lastly, we propose a translation in French for his “great” essay, Experience and Thought (『経験と思想』, 1970-1972). Undermine by his contradictions, his bias and despair, Mori did not manage to open a positive way for Japan. In the commentary of the translation, we tried to redirect his philosophy in a more positive way.