Natur, Technik, Geist

Gregor Schiemann defends the relevance of Aristotle's and Descartes' concept of nature, which define nature in contrast to the non-natural. These traditional concepts however prove to be valid only within limited contexts. In the first part of his book, the author demonstrates that both Aristotle's view of nature as a counterpart to technology in the "life-world" and Descartes' dualism of nature and mind with respect to our own experience of consciousness have remained guiding principles. Using Aristotle's doctrine of the soul and Descartes' mechanism as examples, Schiemann then shows that there is cross-fertilisation between these conceptual pairs. This natural-philosophical and epistemological study combines elements of analytical philosophy with approaches from phenomenology. It aims to contribute to a plural understanding of nature, which abandons claims to universal validity.

Autorentext

Gregor Schiemann is Professor of Philosophy at the Bergischen Universität Wuppertal, Germany.

Klappentext

We still follow the definitions of Nature already laid down by Aristotle and Descartes who saw Nature as being delineated from the non-natural (e.g. culture, technology). Schiemann defends the continuing validity of these traditional ways of understanding, but argues that that they prove to be valid only within limited contexts. Depending on the particular context, we apply several concepts of nature, which are simultaneously valid.

Zusammenfassung

Gregor Schiemann defends the relevance of Aristotle's and Descartes' concept of nature, which define nature in contrast to the non-natural. These traditional concepts however prove to be valid only within limited contexts.

In the first part of his book, the author demonstrates that both Aristotle's view of nature as a counterpart to technology in the "life-world" and Descartes' dualism of nature and mind with respect to our own experience of consciousness have remained guiding principles. Using Aristotle's doctrine of the soul and Descartes' mechanism as examples, Schiemann then shows that there is cross-fertilisation between these conceptual pairs. This natural-philosophical and epistemological study combines elements of analytical philosophy with approaches from phenomenology. It aims to contribute to a plural understanding of nature, which abandons claims to universal validity.