The Generic Essence of Man: toward a Methodology of Analysis

Occupation: Professor at the Department of Social Philosophy and Philosophy of History
Affiliation: Lomonosov Moscow State University
Address: 27, Lomonosovsky Ave., build. 4, Moscow 119234, Russian Federation

Journal name

Chelovek

Edition

Volume 34 Issue 1

Pages

7-27

Abstract

The article considers methodological problems arising in the analysis of the generic essence of man. The author considers man as a substantive system, the essential properties of which are determined by the way of self-purpose existence in the environment, which is the activity of the social subject. The author identifies three dimensions of human essence — generic, historical and personal, considers the relationship and relationship between these taxonomic projections of anthropic reality. The article emphasizes the multidimensionality of man, existing in substantially different worlds, and elucidates the correlation and connection between the social and biological components of human life. The author links the fundamental ethological difference between the objects of living nature and man to the specifics of informational mechanisms of behavior, the presence of human abstract-logical, verbal-conceptual thinking, which changes the basic parameters of the human way of life ((including the mode of instrumental adaptation to the environment). The article criticizes the position of biological reductionism, which denies a qualitative difference between informational orientation of humans and highly developed animals. The point of view that reduces human thinking to the neural activity of the brain and denies the existence of free will in humans — the ability to motivational expertise and the free choice of behavioral reactions to non-alternative drives is criticized. The author considers the impact of biological factors on the procedures of goal setting and goal realization, which (factors) affect human behavior, but do not predetermine it.

Keywords

human, life, information, purpose, behavior, biological, social, activity, thinking, consciousness

Received

28.03.2023

Publication date

30.03.2023

Number of characters

42508

Cite

GOST	Momdzhyan K. The Generic Essence of Man: toward a Methodology of Analysis // Chelovek – 2023. – V. 34. – Issue 1 C. 7-27 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://chelovek-journal.ru/S023620070024826-5-1 (circulation date: 23.03.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S023620070024826-5
MLA	Momdzhyan, Karen Kh "The Generic Essence of Man: toward a Methodology of Analysis." Chelovek 34.1 (2023):7-27. DOI: 10.31857/S023620070024826-5
APA	Momdzhyan K. (2023). The Generic Essence of Man: toward a Methodology of Analysis. Chelovek 34(1), pp.7-27 DOI: 10.31857/S023620070024826-5

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 2, views: 657

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Butkovskaya M.L. Evolyuciya cheloveka i ego social'noj struktury [The evolution of man and his social structure]. Priroda. 1998. № 9. Р. 87–100.

2. Gurevich P.S. Klassicheskaya i neklassicheskaya antropologiya: sravnitel'nyj analiz [Classical and Nonclassical Anthropology: A Comparative Analysis]. Moscow: Centr gumanitarnyh iniciativ Publ., 2018.

3. Inglhart R. Postmodern: menyayushchiesya cennosti i izmenyayushchiesya obshchestva [Postmodernity: Changing Values and Changing Societies]. Polis. 1997. № 4. Р. 6–33.

4. Isaeva N., Isaev S. Lichiny straha i manki erotiki [The faces of fear and the mantle of eroticism]. K'erkegor S. Ponyatie straha. Moscow: Akademicheskij proekt Publ., 2014. Р. 5–22.

5. Kant I. Antropologiya s pragmaticheskoj tochki zreniya [Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View]. Kant I. Soch. V 8 t. T. 7. Moscow: CHoro. 1994 Publ., Р.137–377.

6. Lakomb P. Sociologicheskie osnovy istorii [The Sociological Foundations of History]. Moscow: izd-vo Librokom Publ., 2011.

7. Latur B. Peresborka social'nogo. Vvedenie v aktorno-setevuyu teoriyu [Reassembling the Social. Introduction to Actor-Network Theory]. Moscow: Izd. dom Vysshej shkoly ekonomiki Publ., 2020.

8. Marks K. Ekonomichesko-filosofskie rukopisi 1844 goda [Economic-Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844]. Marks K., Engel's F. Iz rannih proizvedenij. Moscow: Gosudarstvennoe izdatel'stvo politicheskoj literatury,1956. Р. 41–174.

9. Maslou A. Motivaciya i lichnost' [Motivation and personality]. St.-Petersburg Publ., 2019.

10. Momdzhyan K.Kh. Social'no-filosofskij podhod k probleme social'noj sub"ektnosti [Socio-philosophical approach to the problem of social subjectivity]. Chelovek. 2022. № 4. Р. 7–26.

11. Sapol'skij R. Biologiya dobra i zla [The Biology of Good and Evil]. Moscow: Izd-vo ANF Publ., 2019.

12. Uilson E. O prirode cheloveka [On human nature]. Moscow: Kuchkovo pole Publ., 2015.

13. Frankl V. Chelovek v poiskah smysla [Man in Search of Meaning]. Moscow: Progress Publ., 1990.

14. Foucault M. Filosofiya i psihologiya (interv'yu) [Philosophy and Psychology (Interview)]: URL: https://theoryandpractice.ru/posts/5556-cheloveka-na-samom-dele-ne-sushchestvuet-mishel-fuko-o-tom-chto-takoe-psikhologiya (date of access: 24.08.2022).

15. Yanchuk V.A. Kul'turno-dialogicheskaya metaperspektiva integracii psihologii v usloviyah neopredelennosti i konstruktivistskogo mnogoobraziya [A Cultural and Dialogical Metaperspective of the Integration of Psychology under Uncertainty and Constructivist Diversity]. Metodologiya i istoriya psihologii. Vyp. 1. 2018. Р. 124–154.