Abstract
The aim of the article is presentation of two concepts of human individuality which have arisen in modern Polish philosophy of Mieczysław Gogacz and Stanisław Judycki. It is an attempt to look at the problem from two different philosophical perspectives: Thomistic metaphysics and phenomenological epistemology. Metaphysical approach is searching for an answer to the question about human individuality in their ontic structure, whereas phenomenological approach focuses on the analysis of a direct experience. As reason of individuality, Gogacz indicates potential intellect (passive) subjected in a substantial form (soul). Judycki maintains that this reason is the concept of God, according to whom He creates a soul of every human being as radically different from all other human souls, unique. Presented theories develop from a different way of understanding a human being. Gogacz’s theory has a substantial character, refers to the concept of a human of Aristotle, Boethius and St. Thomas Aquinas. Judycki’s concept is a relational approach, modified by elements of substantialist philosophy. He refers to relational approach of Plato, Saint Augustine and Descartes as well as substantialist theories of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas. Thomistic and phenomenological approaches to individuality introduce fundamentally different and essential substance to philosophy concerning human beings.
Highlights
Underlying it is the thesis about the uniqueness of the principles of being, which he uses to construct a thesis about the uniqueness of every individuum having real existence. In his works he emphasises the complete interpenetration of the soul and the body, their ontic unity. He assumes that the human soul possesses a radically different nature than the nature of the body, but at the same time he categorically dissociates himself from dualism
The author of Elementarz metafizyki defines the person as a “self-contained individual being,” an “autonomous individual being” and “subsistence.” unlike Saint Thomas Aquinas, he claims that man is a person in the broad sense, while in the narrow sense it is the human soul, and not man, that is a person
The rationale behind the present discussion was to show that these two different perspectives lead to two complementary images of the individual human person: an objective and a subjective one
Summary
Mieczysław Gogacz attempts to find the basis of the individuality of a human person in his ontic structure He addresses the problem of individuality while discussing the relationship between man’s soul and body.. Stanisław Judycki looks for the foundation of individuality in analysis of direct experience He inquires about the reason for the presence in human consciousness of “I,” that is the subject of conscious processes. As he proves his propositions, he refers to the consistency of theses developed on a discursive basis or employs content coherence arguments. He makes use of descriptions and analogies which perform an illustrative function in his discussion.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
