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The Subject 1.Definitions

The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

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Page 1: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

1. Definitions

Page 2: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• Subject. a noun phrase functioning as

one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the rest of the clause is predicated.

example: john eats lunch at home.

Page 3: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

to speak about the subject is

NOT the same as to speak about

identity.

Page 4: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

ontology

a branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being

ontological questions: where do we come from? why am I alive?

Page 5: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• epistemology the theory of knowledge, esp.

with regards to its methods, validity and scope. epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.

epistemological questions:is it possible to cure cancer?is it possible to really know another person?

Page 6: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

2. philosophical perspectives in the western tradition:

Hume, Kant, and Hegel

Page 7: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• the enlightenment

a european intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

Page 8: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• empiricism. the theory that all

knowledge is derived from sense experience. stimulated by the rise of experimental science, it developed in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Page 9: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• david hume (1711-1776) scottish philosopher of the

enlightment

part of the british empiricist tradition:

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) John Locke (1632-1704) George Berkeley (1685-1753) John Locke (1632-1704) George Berkeley (1685-1753)

Page 10: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• David Hume "Of the Standard of Taste”(1757)

1. “The great variety of Taste, as well as of opinion, which prevails in the world, is too obvious not to have fallen under every one's observation.”

2. “The sentiments of men often differ with regard to beauty and deformity of all kinds, even while their general discourse is the same.”

Page 11: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• David Hume "Of the Standard of Taste”(1757) But:

7. “A thousand different sentiments, excited by the same object, are all right: Because no sentiment represents what is really in the object. Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.”

Page 12: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• David Hume "Of the Standard of Taste”(1757) 18. “When objects of any kind are first

presented to the eye or imagination, the sentiment, which attends them, is obscure and confused; and the mind is, in a great measure, incapable of pronouncing concerning their merits or defects…But allow him to acquire experience in those objects, his feeling becomes more exact and nice: He not only perceives the beauties and defects of each part, but marks the distinguishing species of each quality, and assigns it suitable praise or blame.”

Page 13: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• David Hume "Of the Standard of Taste”(1757) 20. “A man, who has had no opportunity of

comparing the different kinds of beauty, is indeed totally unqualified to pronounce an opinion with regard to any object presented to him. By comparison alone we fix the epithets of praise or blame, and learn how to assign the due degree of each. One accustomed to see, and examine, and weigh the several performances, admired in different ages and nations, can only rate the merits of a work exhibited to his view, and assign its proper rank among the productions of genius.”

Page 14: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• David Hume "Of the Standard of Taste”(1757) 21. “But to enable a critic the more

fully to execute this undertaking, he must preserve his mind free from all prejudice, and allow nothing to enter into his consideration, but the very object which is submitted to his examination.”

Page 15: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• David Hume "Of the Standard of Taste”(1757) Although Hume recognized that

there are differences between human beings and that we have different feelings and tastes, he argued that it is possible to develop aesthetic criteria objectively since a good unbiased critic, will always recognize a good work of art.

Page 16: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

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• transcendental idealism.

a doctrine founded by Immanuel Kant in the 18th century that states that human experience of things is based on how they appear to us - implying that this experience occurs within the subject not outside it.

Page 17: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

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• Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) german philosopher of the late

enlightenment

The Critique of Pure Reason (1781)

Page 18: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• Immanuel KantThe Critique of Pure Reason (1781)

1. We can only know empirically, and because of this our transcendental knowledge is ideal, not real. (in other words, it is not rational.)

Page 19: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• Immanuel KantThe Critique of Pure Reason (1781)

2. The mind has a receptive capacity – sensibility, and a conceptual capacity – understanding.

Page 20: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• Immanuel KantThe Critique of Pure Reason (1781)

3. It is through sensibility that understanding has access to objects. The fact that we can only access objects in time and space helps us to understand time and space, and objects too.

Page 21: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• Immanuel KantThe Critique of Pure Reason (1781)

4. In order for information obtained through the senses to be understood, this information must be made to fit the conceptual framework the mind has available to interpret it. By applying concepts, the understanding takes the information obtained by the senses and identifies what objects have in common. For example, the concept “refuge” makes it possible for a person to identify what a house, a tent and a cave have in common.

Page 22: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• Immanuel KantThe Critique of Pure Reason (1781)

5. However, Kant rejects Hume’s idea that we can evaluate objects objectively because, he believes, the experience we have of them, which we have obtained through our senses, is subjective: “Beauty is not a characteristic of a work of art or a natural phenomenon. It is the awareness of the pleasure associated with the free play of imagination and understanding.”

Page 23: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

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• phenomenology

in the philosophy of Georg Hegel, the internal dialectic of the spirit which moves through different forms of consciousness and finally leads to absolute knowledge.

Page 24: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831)

german philosopher

Philosophy of Mind (1807)

Page 25: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Philosophy of Mind (1807)

1. Phenomena are appearances. We can only know reality when we have mastered appearances since appearances mask reality. We must proceed through many levels of consciousness in order to attain enlightenment.

Page 26: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Philosophy of Mind (1807)

2. The Individual SelfThe Individual Self proceeds from Sensory Consciousness to Perceptual Consciousness to Understanding Consciousness(Very Similar to Kant)

Page 27: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Philosophy of Mind (1807)

3. The Self and Society:Hegel goes beyond Kant in saying that we move from Understanding Consciousness to Self Consciousness, in which the Individual sees him/herself in relation to others.

Page 28: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Philosophy of Mind (1807)

4. The Self and Society:Self Consciousness can develop into either Servant Self-Consciousness, in which the self serves others, or Master Self-Consciousness, in which the self strives to lead, rule, dominate.

Page 29: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Philosophy of Mind (1807)

5. Hegel proceeds to describe many other possible types of Self Consciousness which demonstrate how a person many see him/herself in relationship to society, culture, religion, the church and the world.

Page 30: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Philosophy of Mind (1807)

6. The search for enlightenment ends when the individual attains Absolute Consciousness in which one comes to completely understand and love the whole world. In this stage, the self does not negate the existence of phenomena but rather assimilates it in a vision of absolute harmony, wisdom and truth.

Page 31: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Philosophy of Mind (1807)

Whereas Kant emphasizes the centrality of the subject, Hegel shows us how the subject evolves in relation to his/her context.

Page 32: The Subject 1.Definitions. The Subject Subject. a noun phrase functioning as one of the main components of a clause, being the element about which the

The Subject

• bibliography

Hume, David. “On the Standard of Taste.”http://www.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/361r15.html

“Kant’s Transcendental Idealism”http://www.london-oratory.org/philosophy/philosophies/epistemology/trancendental/body_trancendental.html

“Transcendental Idealism.” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_idealism

Trejo, Paul. “Summary of Hegel’s Philosophy of Mind.http://philosophy.eserver.org/hegel-summary.html