Experience Embodied: Early Modern Accounts of the Human Place in NatureAnik Waldow develops an account of embodied experience that extends from Descartes' conception of the human body as firmly integrated into the causal play of nature, to Kant's understanding of anthropology as a discipline that provides us with guidance in our lives as embodied creatures. Waldow defends the claim that during the early modern period, the debate on experience not only focused on questions arising from the subjectivity of our thinking and feeling, it also foregrounded the essentially embodied dimension of our lives as humans. By taking this approach, Waldow departs from the traditional epistemological route dominant in treatments of early-modern conceptions of experience. She makes the case that reflections on experience took center stage in a debate that was moral in nature, because it raised questions about the developmental potential of human beings and their capacity to instantiate the principles of self-determined agency in their lives. These questions emerged for many early modern authors since they understood that the fact that humans are embodied entailed that they are similarly responsive and causally-determined like other non-human animals. While this perspective made it possible to acknowledge that humans are part of the causal dynamics of nature, it called into question their ability to act in accordance with the principles of free, rational agency. Experience Embodied reveals how early modern authors responded to this challenge, offering a new perspective on the centrality of the concept of experience in comprehending the uniquely human place in nature. |
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Experience Embodied: Early Modern Accounts of the Human Place in Nature Anik Waldow Limited preview - 2020 |
Experience Embodied: Early Modern Accounts of the Human Place in Nature Anik Waldow Limited preview - 2020 |
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able actions activity affective agents anthropology approach argues become body capacity causal cause chapter character claim clear cognitive complex conceived conception concern connection consciousness constitutes context counts crucial Descartes determined develop discussion embodied emerges empirical enables engagement Essay established existence experience explain fact feelings follows forces freedom function give given Herder human human nature Hume ideas imagination important influences judge judgment Kant Kant’s kind knowledge language laws learning Letter lives Locke Locke’s matter means metaphysics method mind moral nature notes objects one’s organization original ourselves particular passions persons perspective philosophy play possible practices present principles processes question reason refers reflections relation requires responses result role Rousseau sciences seen sense simply situation social soul specific stands stresses structure suggests sympathetic sympathy takes things thinking thoughts tion turn understanding University virtue writes