Original scientific paper
The Understanding of Man in the History of Philosophy (part 1)
Ivan Šestak
; Filozofski fakultet Družbe Isusove, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The attempt to define man, or rather the endeavour to comprehend his nature - this particularity of his being - is as a rule very complex. Namely, man is per se a problematic creature in very many ways. For many, the core of his complexity, and of his quasi-contradictoriness, is to be found primarily in his spiritual-physical totality, which is his singularity. Every contemporary systematic approach to the establishment of a philosophical teaching on man ( i.e. philosophical anthropology) must necessarily also take into account, unlike the classic scholastic textbooks on this discipline, reflections on man as a whole, such as have been bequeathed upon us in particular historical-philosophical periods, or rather by the representatives of these periods. History can contribute substantially to man's understanding of himself. This endeavour shall be based upon original texts of thinkers and upon the interpretations of notable experts on these authors, as well as upon the history of philosophy itself, from the Ancient Greek to the philosophy of the Renaissance.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
1206
URI
Publication date:
3.9.2003.
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