The Courage to Be Disliked

Ichiro Kishimi is a Japanese philosopher, psychologist, and thinker. He works as a professor, a writer, and a counselor in Kyoto. Ever since first encountering Adler’s ideas in his thirties, Kishimi has been studying the psychologist’s work, and his background in philosophy has allowed him to connect Adler’s beliefs with those of ancient Greek philosophers like Socrates and his student Plato. In Kishimi’s life and work, he embodies these ideas. Kishimi says that he wants to play the role of Socrates for Adler, and his co-author Koga in turn says he wants to play the role of Plato for Kishimi. In their book, they further embed those ideas in the structure of the narrative; like Socrates, the philosopher in The Courage to Be Disliked believes in the importance of dialogue and communication. The relationship between the two authors also reflects that of Socrates and Plato and that of the philosopher and the youth in the book itself.

With his academic background in psychology, Kishimi has worked in therapeutic settings, directly applying Adler’s theories to help individuals navigate emotional and psychological struggles. By combining this experience with his study of philosophy and his belief that wisdom can be accessible to all, Kishimi communicates theories through dialogue in plain language in The Courage to Be Disliked.

Fumitake Koga is a Japanese author and journalist with a personal interest in Alfred Adler’s psychological theories. He encountered these theories in his twenties when he read a book by Kishimi that introduced Adler’s ideas. These ideas transformed his perspective, and he soon realized that he was not only interested in Adler but in Kishimi’s interpretation of Adler’s work as well. Ten years after reading Kishimi’s book, he finally spoke to Kishimi in person. As a result of this relationship, Koga and Kishimi co-authored The Courage to Be Disliked.

Koga’s background in writing and journalism helped him to understand and organize Kishimi’s psychological and philosophical ideas into a comprehensive, digestible narrative. Together, the authors communicate complex theories, common questions, and enduring skepticism through a dialogue between a philosopher and a young man.

The philosopher is one of two main characters in The Courage to Be Disliked. He lives outside of an old city, where he reads, writes, translates, and counsels people who ask for help. He is older than the young man who visits him, but true to his beliefs, he treats his visitor as an equal. Throughout the book, the philosopher divulges personal details about himself in order to help the young man to better understand his teachings. For example, the philosopher is short in stature, and although he used to feel inferior because of this, he has since learned to reframe his physical form as an advantage, given that it makes people feel comfortable with him. He also tells the youth about his father, with whom he had a fraught relationship until he took responsibility for his own efforts and decided to let go of the past. These instances prove that the philosopher himself has grown over time, but over the course of this conversation, he remains a constant, guiding presence for the benefit of the young man, who evolves throughout their conversations together.

Thus, the philosopher acts as a foil for the youth: He is consistent, calm, happy, trusting, and welcoming. He believes in and embodies both Adlerian psychology and Greek philosophy, and these approaches translate directly into his relationship with the young man. He does not judge, and he tells the truth, even if he disagrees. He also continues their dialogue, inquiry, and exploration for as long as necessary. Even when it seems that no progress is being made, and even as the youth hurls insults his way, the philosopher remains level-headed and retains his sense of humor. When the young man calls him names, he often responds with laughter and a calm explanation or question. His demeanor therefore drives the story forward, especially when he delivers detailed explanations of Adlerian concepts, always in the form of conversation. He uses the young man’s thoughts as vehicles to explain each new concept. While the philosopher does not undergo great personal changes in character, his consistency and positivity allow him to build a friendship with the youth, and this relationship changes them both.