Paul Ricoeur and Philosophical Anthropology
Paul Ricoeur explored his philosophical anthropology in Freedom and Nature (1950), Fallible Man (1960), and Symbolism of Evil (1960). The design of this essay is to think along with him on these matters. The nature of voluntary motion and consent create the possibilities, the undifferentiated keyboard, that is the human being. We need to explore how this is the case. We can pursue this theme best if we bracket the domain of human fault. This bracketing allows a focus upon the will. We can begin with our sense of space. Intentionality, which is a decision we make that relates us to an object or project in the world, means that humanity is not reducible to elementary actions in the brain or to genetics. Such a decision is a judgment, designating one project or object and not others. Deciding is taking a position in relation to the world. We adopt a project to bring change in our world. We ...