Single Idea 20742

[catalogued under 16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 2. Ethical Self]

Full Idea

The real subject is not the cognitive subject …the real subject is the ethically existing subject.

Gist of Idea

The real subject is ethical, not cognitive

Source

Søren Kierkegaard (Concluding Unscientific Postscript [1846], p.281), quoted by Kevin Aho - Existentialism: an introduction 2 'Subjective'

Book Reference

Aho,Kevin: 'Existentialism: an introduction' [Polity 2014], p.25


A Reaction

Perhaps we should say the essence of the self is its drive to live, not its drive to know. Just getting through the day is top priority, and ethics don’t figure much for the solitary person. But each activity, such as cooking, has its virtues.

Related Idea

Idea 20739 Levinas took 'first philosophy' to begin with seeing the vulnerable faces of others [Levinas, by Aho]