Philosophy of Humanity

Anthropology (Philosophy of Humanity)

Definition

The term "anthropology" derives from the Greek word "άνθρωπος" (anthropos, meaning human). It signifies the science of humanity. Two distinct scientific domains are referred to as anthropology. One pertains to a branch of biology studying the racial and national characteristics of the human body. The other refers to a branch of philosophy concerned with defining the essence of humanity. To distinguish between these fields, the philosophical study of humanity is commonly termed philosophical anthropology. Although it emerged as an independent field relatively recently, at the beginning of the 20th century, this does not imply that philosophy had not engaged with human nature before philosophical anthropology became a distinct discipline. The analysis of human essence has always held a prominent place in philosophical discourse, for since the inception of humanity, people have been intrigued by their own nature and sought answers about their essence. The term "anthropology" was first employed by the German scholar Magnus Hundt (1449-1519) in the title of his 1501 work, though Hundt was concerned with biological anthropology. In 1596, the German priest Otto Casmann (1562-1607) authored a book titled "Anthropological Psychology," distinguishing between biological anthropology, which he considered the study of the human body, and psychology, which he defined as the study of the human soul. Thus, while the term "anthropology" dates back to 1501, it was not used in the context of modern philosophical anthropology at that time.

The theory of humanity occupies a crucial role in any religion. Among religious theories of humanity, two have exerted the greatest influence on global culture. One, rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism, views humanity as an illusion. The other, emerging from Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), regards humanity as a special creation of God, the "crown of creation." The first significant philosophical theories of humanity originated in Ancient Greece, where Plato, Aristotle, and other ancient philosophers dedicated considerable attention to the study of human nature. In Medieval Europe, Christian anthropology developed, with prominent thinkers such as Saint Augustine and Thomas Aquinas laying the foundations of Christian theories of humanity. In the modern era, reflections on humanity gained new vigor, with philosophers analyzing various aspects of the human problem and producing extensive theoretical material. Despite this vast interest in humanity, the term "philosophical anthropology" was not used until the early 20th century.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a philosophical school emerged, named philosophical anthropology. Its founders included German philosophers Max Scheler, Helmuth Plessner, Arnold Gehlen, and others. They focused on studying humanity as an independent substance, rather than as part of other realities, such as a biological organism, a member of society, a subject of legal relations, or an economic agent. The ideas of the philosophical anthropology school not only renewed philosophical attention to humanity but also shifted the general philosophical discourse. By centering human beings, 20th- and 21st-century philosophers have approached other philosophical questions from the perspective of humanity. For instance, today economics, law, politics, society, culture, and science are often considered not as abstract categories, but as means of realizing universal human values.