Related Questions
§ How does philosophy become an issue in the study of Anthropology?
§ Is philosophical anthropology a fundamental science of man?
§ What has philosophy got to do with Anthropology?
§ Is anthropology really philosophical?
INTRODUCTION
Philosophy becoming involved with Anthropology results from the fact that, Anthropology which claims to be the ‘study of man’ has failed in doing just that. Hence, philosophy steps in to critique the discipline of anthropology. However, can philosophical anthropology boast of its ability to study man intrinsically?
THE FAILURE OF ANTHROPOLOGY
The study of man which ought to penetrate his ‘essence’ (before anything else) is where Anthropology has failed, as it is found studying man’s works and activities. These things could not give a clear headed study of man, so Anthropology fails to answer the question, ‘what is man’?
PHILOSOPHY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
The act of philosophy becoming involved with Anthropology can be seen in a dual form. Firstly, as an ‘infrastructure of discipline’ and secondly, as an effort to carry out the ‘metaphysical study of man’;
i. As an infrastructure of discipline
Philosophical Anthropology begins as a ‘critique of cognition/theory of knowledge’ – as presented by Anthropology. It critically scrutinizes the basic assumptions and presuppositions of Anthropology. Its final aim is to analyze whether Anthropology has accomplished its get objectives or not; or maybe it has misplaced its priorities and is incapable of attaining its main aim, ‘studying man’.
ii. As the metaphysical study of man
Due to its critique of empirical Anthropology, philosophical Anthropology then sets out to establish a fundamental science of man that transcends culture, colour, race, age, sex etc. Thus, it explores metaphysically, the essential characteristics and transcendental structures of man. This effort which considers a combination of metaphysical, epistemological and ethnical elements, aims at discovering what is essential and objective to all humans.
LIMITATIONS OF PHILOSOPHICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Now goes the question, ‘after all, does philosophical Anthropology really study man objectively as it intends? Let’s find out.
A. Ontology versus Anthropology
Precisely speaking, what makes Anthropology, philosophical is not really the ‘transcendence’ quality it possesses, but that it is connected with the being called ‘man’. Otherwise, when the transcendental structures of ‘existence’ – all constituents of the universe, are analyzed; what we get is ‘ontology’ and not ‘philosophical Anthropology’. Hence, it is actually ‘ontology’ that can talk of ‘human essence’, as philosophical anthropology simply talks about ‘man’. Issues about ‘man’ are multi-faceted, but that of ‘human essence’ is mono-dimensional.
B. Forms of Philosophical Anthropology
Philosophical Anthropology as it were, aims at establishing what is essential and objective to all humans. But, this effort is strained by the fact that ‘man’ can be viewed philosophically from various angles. Hence, different types of philosophical Anthropology emerged. Some major important ones are;
i. Biological Philosophical Anthropology
This analyses those features and structures that transcends the being called ‘man’.
ii. Cultural Philosophical Anthropology
This analyses the principles of societal civilization that transcends the being called ‘man’.
iii. Psychological Philosophical Anthropology
This analyses the trends of behaviour and the principles of the mind which transcend ‘man’.
iv. Theological Philosophical Anthropology
This analyses those principles of human relationship with the supernatural that transcends ‘man’.
ONTOLOGY - ‘SCIENCE OF EXISTENCE’: THE FINAL SOLUTION
Obviously, philosophical Anthropology cannot give a unified and specific idea of what is essential and objective to all men. Therefore, the final solution rests with ‘ontology’ – the science of existence. Only ontology can talk of ‘human essence’, as it is concerned with all aspects of being. That is why the existentialists would say ‘existence precedes essence’.
CONCLUSION
Conclusively, it is made clear that even though Philosophical Anthropology has shown that Anthropology in itself is inadequate, it is however not a fundamental science of man. It is ontology that alone qualifies for the unique task of efficiently studying man’s essence.
§ How does philosophy become an issue in the study of Anthropology?
§ Is philosophical anthropology a fundamental science of man?
§ What has philosophy got to do with Anthropology?
§ Is anthropology really philosophical?
INTRODUCTION
Philosophy becoming involved with Anthropology results from the fact that, Anthropology which claims to be the ‘study of man’ has failed in doing just that. Hence, philosophy steps in to critique the discipline of anthropology. However, can philosophical anthropology boast of its ability to study man intrinsically?
THE FAILURE OF ANTHROPOLOGY
The study of man which ought to penetrate his ‘essence’ (before anything else) is where Anthropology has failed, as it is found studying man’s works and activities. These things could not give a clear headed study of man, so Anthropology fails to answer the question, ‘what is man’?
PHILOSOPHY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
The act of philosophy becoming involved with Anthropology can be seen in a dual form. Firstly, as an ‘infrastructure of discipline’ and secondly, as an effort to carry out the ‘metaphysical study of man’;
i. As an infrastructure of discipline
Philosophical Anthropology begins as a ‘critique of cognition/theory of knowledge’ – as presented by Anthropology. It critically scrutinizes the basic assumptions and presuppositions of Anthropology. Its final aim is to analyze whether Anthropology has accomplished its get objectives or not; or maybe it has misplaced its priorities and is incapable of attaining its main aim, ‘studying man’.
ii. As the metaphysical study of man
Due to its critique of empirical Anthropology, philosophical Anthropology then sets out to establish a fundamental science of man that transcends culture, colour, race, age, sex etc. Thus, it explores metaphysically, the essential characteristics and transcendental structures of man. This effort which considers a combination of metaphysical, epistemological and ethnical elements, aims at discovering what is essential and objective to all humans.
LIMITATIONS OF PHILOSOPHICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Now goes the question, ‘after all, does philosophical Anthropology really study man objectively as it intends? Let’s find out.
A. Ontology versus Anthropology
Precisely speaking, what makes Anthropology, philosophical is not really the ‘transcendence’ quality it possesses, but that it is connected with the being called ‘man’. Otherwise, when the transcendental structures of ‘existence’ – all constituents of the universe, are analyzed; what we get is ‘ontology’ and not ‘philosophical Anthropology’. Hence, it is actually ‘ontology’ that can talk of ‘human essence’, as philosophical anthropology simply talks about ‘man’. Issues about ‘man’ are multi-faceted, but that of ‘human essence’ is mono-dimensional.
B. Forms of Philosophical Anthropology
Philosophical Anthropology as it were, aims at establishing what is essential and objective to all humans. But, this effort is strained by the fact that ‘man’ can be viewed philosophically from various angles. Hence, different types of philosophical Anthropology emerged. Some major important ones are;
i. Biological Philosophical Anthropology
This analyses those features and structures that transcends the being called ‘man’.
ii. Cultural Philosophical Anthropology
This analyses the principles of societal civilization that transcends the being called ‘man’.
iii. Psychological Philosophical Anthropology
This analyses the trends of behaviour and the principles of the mind which transcend ‘man’.
iv. Theological Philosophical Anthropology
This analyses those principles of human relationship with the supernatural that transcends ‘man’.
ONTOLOGY - ‘SCIENCE OF EXISTENCE’: THE FINAL SOLUTION
Obviously, philosophical Anthropology cannot give a unified and specific idea of what is essential and objective to all men. Therefore, the final solution rests with ‘ontology’ – the science of existence. Only ontology can talk of ‘human essence’, as it is concerned with all aspects of being. That is why the existentialists would say ‘existence precedes essence’.
CONCLUSION
Conclusively, it is made clear that even though Philosophical Anthropology has shown that Anthropology in itself is inadequate, it is however not a fundamental science of man. It is ontology that alone qualifies for the unique task of efficiently studying man’s essence.
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