Naturalizm a spirytualizm i problem jedności wiedzy o człowieku. Stanowisko Roberta Spaemanna

Abstract

Summary The article presents two issues closely related to each other in relation to the eminent German philosopher, R. Spaemann, who died in 2018. The first one describes the characteristics of two reductionist positions, naturalism and spiritualism, and how they stand out in a special way based on science and philosophy, including anthropological and moral reflection. The second issue concerns the possible perspective of the unity of knowledge about man in the context of the theory of these positions, and especially the unity of two ways (perspectives) of learning about man: the natural and the metaphysical. Of course, Spaemann's reflections on naturalism and spiritualism pierce his critical attitude towards these doctrines. They are always entangled in misinterpretations, approaches and contradictions (ambivalences), and even dogmatism. Spaemann shows this in several different contexts: modern science and philosophy, in the theories of known scientists and philosophers, based on the example of important phenomena in the fields of anthropological, moral, and eco-philosophical issues. Anthropological theses formulated by naturalism and spiritualism are in contradiction and cannot be reconciled with each other, and in this sense, they do not allow for the unity of knowledge about man. According to Spaemann, it is possible, however, to unite two ways of getting to know about man: the natural and the metaphysical. The original and interesting threads of Spaemann’s analyses are worth emphasizing. These certainly include identifying spiritual elements in Singer and Dennet’s theory and in modern man’s mentality. Let us add that Spaemann did not directly consider the problem outlined in this article in any of his writings. Therefore, the article attempts to develop this by taking into account the Munich thinker’s overall scientific output.