Between natural disposition and cultural masterment of life

the cognitive sciences and concept of man in conflicting conceptions of science

Peter Janich

pp. 95-110

in: Armin Grünwald, Mathias Gutmann, Eva Neumann-Held (eds), On human nature, Berlin, Springer, 2002

Abstract

A critique of the conceptions of science that the cognitive sciences are factually based on will form the subject matter of the following discussion." The purpose of this critique is twofold: (1) It will provide arguments in support of the view that, in the cognitive sciences, acting man with his cultural history is the measure of all things; and (2) in a more general sense, it will discuss the question whether the natural sciences can make contributions to the concept of man (Menschenbild).