This essay examines the historical nature of the Novel Coronavirus as an epoch-making turning point in history. It compares and contrasts the current and a previous pandemic and the response by contemporary and earlier societies, respectively. Penned in May 2020 and published in the Japanese-language journal CHUO KORON (July 2020 special issue), this essay is perhaps the final work by renowned author, playwright, literary critic, and philosopher Yamazaki Masakazu who passed away on August 19, 2020.

中文翻译：

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21世纪的传染病与文明：日本对现代社会的无形灾难的回应是一种公共道德感

本文探讨了新型冠状病毒的历史本质，将其作为历史上划时代的转折点。它比较并对比了当前和以前的大流行以及当代社会和早期社会的反应。这篇文章写于2020年5月，并发表在日语杂志CHUO KORON（2020年7月号）上，这也许是著名作家，剧作家，文学评论家和哲学家山崎昌一的最后著作，他于2020年8月19日去世。