Journal of Cognitive Science 26 (3):289-335. 2025This paper aims to explore the dynamic aspect of deepening our understanding of concepts and reality that involves experiences and thought at later stages of our lives along personal and social dimensions. We take a linguistic approach, using corpus data focusing on examples of Japanese hontōno {jibun/ shiawase} ‘true {self/ happiness}’ and their lexical variants. Insights about the concept and reality of hontōno {jibun/ shiawase} are identified and organized in terms of classification and contrast. Then qualitative and quantitative analyses of the corpus data that are annotated with the identified insights are provided. The analysis demonstrates that the meaning of jibun and shiawase extends beyond lexical and encyclopedic knowledge and reflects the process of seeking and approaching truth with a critical stance toward the world around us (e.g. a common sense of values). Hontōno is fundamentally involved in this process and functions as a contrast marker reflecting human critical thinking. The discussion includes a comparison between the empirical insights about shiawase and Aristotle’s philosophical thought on eudimonia ‘happiness’ as presented in Nicomachean Ethics. The findings suggest that the proposed corpus-based analysis serves as an effective means for obtaining and utilizing empirical data for the exploration of philosophical issues as well as lexical semantics and pragmatics.
