The Kyoto Prize Symposium features three laureates whose work spans ethics, life sciences, and information technology. Across very different fields, the laureates highlight research that reshapes how we understand human behavior, biological development, and intelligent systems.
As Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder of the Kyoto Prize, puts it: “A human being has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of humanity and the world, and that the future of humanity can be assured only though a balance of scientific progress and spiritual depth.”
The Audacity of Listening
Carol Gilligan, professor at New York University, receives the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy in the field of Thought and Ethics for pioneering a new horizon for the “ethic of care” while pointing out distortions and limitations in conventional psychological theories about women’s thoughts and behaviors. Her research-based insights into moral reasoning show how women are more likely than men to prioritize human connections and seek solutions that preserve relationships. Gilligan contrasts this relationship-oriented “ethic of care” with an “ethic of justice,” and her life’s work is deeply concerned with how these frameworks can be understood together. Her work offers a foundation for addressing challenges such as women’s empowerment and the welfare of the elderly and disabled.
Germline Epigenetic Imprints Regulate Mammalian Development
Azim Surani, Director of Research at the Gurdon Institute and Professor Emeritus at the University of Cambridge, receives the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences in the field of Life Sciences and Medicine for demonstrating how male and female mammalian genomes receive distinct imprints during germ cell development. This work on genomic imprinting introduces a novel concept to Mendelian genetics and becomes a fundamental principle in the life sciences. Surani’s research contributes to developmental biology and epigenetics and connects to a wide range of fields, including physiology, regenerative medicine, reproductive medicine, and plant science.
My Life Has Been Lucky!
Shun-ichi Amari receives the Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology in the field of Information Technology for his work on neural network dynamics and learning theory. His studies also elucidate our understanding of brain activity in perceptual systems such as vision. Amari establishes a new academic field he names “information geometry,” which considers statistical models and probability distribution and lays the foundation for the development of practical algorithms. His research plays an essential role in the evolution of artificial intelligence.