The phenomenon of consent with yourself

Abstract

This article is dedicated to analysis of the phenomenon of consent with yourself. Leaning on the ideas. H. Arend, the author analyzes various aspects of consent with yourself, as well as their interconnection. This phenomenon is viewed in three aspects: 1. attitude of a subject towards himself (psychology); 2. “Socratic” thinking as inner speech; 3. moral act. All three aspects of this phenomenon are based on the concept of “Socratic” thinking as an internal dialogue; therefore, special attention is turned to examination of its peculiarities. A comparative analysis is conducted on the “Socratic” thinking and other concepts of thinking, namely M. Heidegger’s. Consent with yourself in each corresponding aspect has the following meaning: 1. Positive attitude toward yourself reflected in self-regard. It is demonstrated that consent is only one-sided attitude, thus its more accurate characteristic would be self-regard, rather than “friendship with yourself”. Self-regard can stem from the experience of reasoning as a conversation with yourself on your thoughts and actions;  2. A condition of thinking, namely as consent in thought (non-contradiction) and with thought. Consent with yourself is not reduced to the logical law of non-contradiction. As a manifestation of existential process of thinking, it is not a formalized procedure and depends on the personal attitude and values of the subject. It is assumed that self-regard as a manifestation of consent is impossible without the judgment of internal dialogue; 3. Leaning on the ideas of H. Arendt, the author outlines the possible interpretation of consent in thinking as an ethical principle or internal standard of conscience, spreading to the actions of an individual. The conclusion is made that the phenomenon of consent with yourself has full significance only for the “Socratic” thinking, which makes responsible a thinker himself, rather than history, world spirit or being.