The Concept of Consciousness in Vasily Sesemann’s Manuscripts
Dalius Jonkus
Rudn Journal of Philosophy March 30, 2023 DOI: 10.22363/2313-2302-2023-27-1-41-51 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Vasily Sesemann's concept of consciousness is phenomenological: Sesemann rejects naturalistic and objectivist explanations of consciousness, criticizes naturalistic psychology, and holds that consciousness is an intentional activity, an embodied self-awareness, and an empathic connection with other living beings that must be explored as experiential subjectivity rather than as an object. |
Abstract
Vasily Sesemann’s manuscript Self-Knowledge, Self-Consciousness and Objectification explores the relationship of consciousness with self-consciousness and the subconscious, as well as various forms of objectification of consciousness. This manuscript can be attributed to a group of manuscript texts that discuss the origin of consciousness and the metaphysical relationship between matter and spirit. Sesemann studied consciousness, describing it as an intentional experience and rejecting its naturalistic explanations. Sesemann revealed the irreducibility of life to physiological chemical processes and, at the same time, rejected the dualistic opposition of spirit and matter, soul, and body. The article aims to show that the concept of consciousness formulated by Sesemann is phenomenological. The philosopher rejects naturalistic and objectivist explanations of consciousness. Consciousness must be explored as an experiential subjectivity, not as an object. Sesemann criticizes naturalistic psychology and argues that consciousness is an intentional activity in the world. Consciousness is embodied self-awareness and empathic connection with other living beings.