The problem of man in K. Popper’s philosophy: between evolution and self-transcendence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55056/apm.7750Keywords:
Popper, Kant, problem of man, self, emergent evolution, self-transcendence, overcoming egoism, criticism of essentialismAbstract
The article analyzes the problem of man in the Karl Popper's philosophy in terms of evolution and self-transcendence. It is argued that Popper reformulates this fundamental problem in an original way and offers his own solution, involving modern science and significantly rethinking the philosophical tradition. The author proposes to reconstruct Popper's solution to the problem of man as an answer to the question: how is it possible that man, being a product of biological evolution and belonging to the natural world (world 1), is able to transcend his own limits and realize self-transcendence in two senses – by overcoming instincts and inclinations, reaching the level of self-consciousness, and also consciously overcoming egoistic inclinations by receiving feedback from the cultural world (world 3) and other people?
The article discusses why the concept of “human nature” is vague for Popper and what alternatives to classical essentialism he offers. Popper's perspective denies the existence of a predetermined essence, as well as an individual essence that is the result of human efforts. Avoiding the extremes of classical essentialism and existentialism, Popper draws largely on the tradition of practical philosophy with its ideas of character as an inherent essence and self-determination. Popper's approach also includes the concept of the interaction between biological and cultural emergent evolution, which explains the origin of reflective self-consciousness, critical rationality, argumentative speech, morality, and aesthetic taste. The overcoming of the egoistic-subjectivist perspective is considered through the logical, linguistic, ethical and aesthetic dimensions.
The article shows that Popper's formulation of the problem of man is closely related to the Kantian tradition, since it focuses on the conditions for the development of specifically human qualities. Despite the criticism of essentialism, Popper seeks to preserve the idea of the rational and moral unity of mankind. The article concludes by focusing on the question of whether self-improvement is only a sphere of possibility for human beings or whether it is obligatory, which could be the subject of further research.
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Література
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Popper K. Intellectual Autobiography. The Philosophy of Karl Popper. Ed. by A. Schilpp. Vol. 1, Part I. La Salle, Ill.: Open Court, 1974, 5–181.
Popper K. Knowledge and the Body-Mind Problem. In defence of interaction, lectures delivered in 1969, Emory University. Ed. by M.A. Notturno. London: Routledge, 1994.
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Popper K.R. Epistemology Without a Knowing Subject. Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972, 106–152.
Popper K.R. The Myth of the Framework. The Myth of the Framework: In defense of science and rationality. Ed. by M.A. Notturno. London and New York: Routledge, 1994, 33–64.
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Shaver R. Egoism. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2023 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2023/entries/egoism/>.
Shearmur J. Political Thought of Karl Popper. London and New York: Routledge, 2002.
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