Being Human: Philosophical Anthropology through Phenomenology

Being Human is a philosophical book that examines what is typically assumed but not examined in current philosophical literature. It seeks to look at the field of experience and understand what it means to seek explanation, who seeks it, and why it is sought.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: The Catholic University of America Press

Being Human is the culmination of years of teaching Philosophical Anthropology, conducting Phenomenological Workshops, and engaging in the thoughtful reading of classic texts, all with a reflective awareness of the field of experience. This book seeks to explore what is often taken for granted but not critically examined in much of the current philosophical literature.

In contemporary philosophical discourse, there are several prevalent approaches. One involves textual studies that aim to understand how past thinkers conceptualized certain ideas. These works often rely on extensive scholarship to trace the historical development of thought and present it in a scholarly and academic manner. However, these studies may be challenging to assess due to their abstract nature, which is often far removed from everyday experiences and written in complex and arcane language. Additionally, some works in Continental philosophy tend to be high-flying, operating at abstract levels and employing intricate language, making them difficult to comprehend for both reasons. On the other hand, there are works that are narrowly focused on particular claims and the arguments that can be made for and against them. This approach, known as Analytical thought, emphasizes the logical and analytical examination of these claims. Furthermore, there is a group of thinkers who employ deconstructive strategies to challenge the authority. These thinkers, influenced by the works of Jacques Derrida, aim to expose the limitations and flaws of texts and argue that they do not fully capture the complexities of human experience.

While scholarly study, abstract constructions, refined arguments, and deconstructive strategies each have their own significance, it is important to recognize that they all occur within the framework of the field of experience, which is often assumed without explicit attention. This is particularly evident in the philosophy of mind, where the overall field of experience has often been overlooked, often in favor of speculative conjectures about how our ordinary categories would need to be altered once neuro-physiology reaches a point where it can fully explain all human behavior. Robert E. Wood argues that it is crucial to understand what it is that is supposed to be explained before engaging in conjectures about possible explanations. However, this requires us to confront the deeper questions of what it means to seek explanation, who is the one seeking it, and why it is sought in the first place.

In conclusion, Being Human aims to provide a fresh perspective on the study of human nature by exploring what is typically assumed but not critically examined in contemporary philosophical literature. It seeks to challenge the prevalent approaches and encourage a more nuanced and reflective understanding of the human experience. By examining the field of experience and the various ways in which philosophical inquiry can be approached, this book aims to contribute to the ongoing dialogue between philosophy and other disciplines, such as neuroscience and psychology, in order to shed light on the complex and multifaceted nature of being human.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 153 x 230 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813236186