The vector subject in the factual ontology of Q. Meillassoux

The concepts of contingency, factuality, and correlationism introduced by Meillassoux are clarified in the article. The question of the contingency of the forms of correlation is revealed in the context of the functioning of post-Kantian philosophy. The contingency of the correlationist theories of a subject is established. The article substantiates the thesis about the dual position of the subject in the factual ontology: Meillassoux reaches the antisubjectivist contingency through a radical overcoming of the various paradigms of the subject, then, the philosopher recovers the position of a strong subject from the non-human contingency. Basically, the article deals with the ontological status, characteristics and factual ethics of the vector subject. It reveals the way in which Meillassoux thinks of the subject in the context of the radical unreasonableness: this is the simultaneous holding, on the one hand, the order of the actual given and, on the other, the contingency of the given and the subject. The factual character of the subject-object dichotomy restored by Meillassoux is clarified. It’s established that non-Hegelian dialectics is the main manner of navigating the subject in the contingent universe. The key property of the subject, its “vectorness”, is determined. The main characteristics of the actual and virtual World are highlighted. Furthermore, it’s investigated how the subject is activated in the direction of the virtual World. It’s noted that the thinking of the vector subject is more focused on temporality than on space. The ontological foundations of the “spiritual exercises” prescribed to the vector subject are analyzed.