Who Speaks for the Human Today?

Wlad Godzich

《Concentric： Literary and Cultural Studies》 32卷2期 (2006/09) Pp. 3-17

https://doi.org/10.6240/concentric.lit.200609_32(2).0001

並列摘要

This essay attempts to approach the contemporary question of the ”human” by exploring the role of the Humanities in a historical context. It goes back to Greek mythology, Biblical theology, and Renaissance humanism in order to elucidate the emergence of the modern European notions of ”human nature,” the ”Great Chain of Being” and, based on these, the ”Mighty Man syndrome.” The latter, a dominant Enlightenment viewpoint which began to be critiqued by 19th century thinkers, sees ”man” as being capable of fully realizing his infinite possibilities. The author argues for what he calls ”hominization”-a more open form of philosophical anthropology, one that can enable the further deconstruction of the Mighty Man perspective. His reflection on hominization inevitably takes the form of suggestions with regard to the directions that future research on the question or problem of the ”human” might take.

並列關鍵字

the Humanities ； Aristotle ； Pico della Mirandola ； Montaigne ； human nature ； the Great Chain of Being, Mighty Man ； human rights ； hominization

參考文獻

Aristotle,Hippocrates G. Apostle. (Trans.)(1981).Aristotle's On the Soul.Grinnell, IA:Peripatetic.

Benjamin, Walter.,Hannah Arendt. (Ed.),Harry Zohn. (Trans.)(1969).Illuminations.New York:Schocken.

Della Mirandola,Pico Giovanni.(1956).Oration on the Dignity of Man.New York:Gateway.

MacKinnon, Catharine.(2006).Are Women Human? and Other International Dialogues.New York:Belknap.

Montaigne, Michel (de.),Donald M. Frame. (Trans.)(1958).The Complete Essays of Montaigne.Stanford:Stanford UP.