the possibility of a transcendental subject by zosimo lee

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The possibility of aThe possibility of atranscendental subjecttranscendental subject

Zosimo E. LeeZosimo E. LeeDepartment of PhilosophyDepartment of Philosophy

UP DilimanUP Diliman

OutlineOutline

Science in public placesScience in public places Knowledge as open-endedKnowledge as open-ended Transcendental subjectTranscendental subject Epistemic violenceEpistemic violence InterrogationsInterrogations

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Science in public placesScience in public places

Social beliefs and practices versus veritisticSocial beliefs and practices versus veritisticpropertiesproperties

Ideals versus ideal practicesIdeals versus ideal practices Versus myths, ignorance, traditionVersus myths, ignorance, tradition Culture (contrasts with, not opposition to)Culture (contrasts with, not opposition to)

the acquisition of new knowledgethe acquisition of new knowledge Fusing science with social spaces to fill theFusing science with social spaces to fill the

epistemic gapepistemic gap


Science and mind-body connectionScience and mind-body connection((cyborgscyborgs and us extending our reach and us extending our reachthrough computers and machines)through computers and machines)

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What the advancements in science andWhat the advancements in science andtechnology have done to our efficacy ontechnology have done to our efficacy onthe objective world?the objective world?


Creating a world out of our categories andCreating a world out of our categories andknowledge and that world confronting us asknowledge and that world confronting us asa creation of the human mind. e.g. Wea creation of the human mind. e.g. Weconstruct a building and the buildingconstruct a building and the buildingconditions our behavior, our feelings, ourconditions our behavior, our feelings, ourframe of mind, how we think.frame of mind, how we think.

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Knowledge as open-endedKnowledge as open-ended

What certainty consists in. How do weWhat certainty consists in. How do weassure ourselves that what we haveassure ourselves that what we havediscovered or created to be true isdiscovered or created to be true istrustworthy, and indeed the case.trustworthy, and indeed the case.


From the social context to the primary From the social context to the primary locuslocusof such a transformativeof such a transformativeprocessprocess——consciousness and thinking.consciousness and thinking.

Role of categories and labels and ourRole of categories and labels and ourperception of objects, and our mental andperception of objects, and our mental andemotional responses.emotional responses.

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Using reason and our criteria for what isUsing reason and our criteria for what islogically valid, or reasonable, andlogically valid, or reasonable, andevaluating ideas on epistemic grounds forevaluating ideas on epistemic grounds forwhat we will then find acceptable or not, orwhat we will then find acceptable or not, orinvalid and incomplete.invalid and incomplete.


Having a schema in one's mind to whatHaving a schema in one's mind to whatwould constitute a good answer, or awould constitute a good answer, or acomplete answers, or a better answer,complete answers, or a better answer,because there are elements that one couldbecause there are elements that one couldaim for, consequently aim for, consequently ““constructingconstructing”” what whatwould be the most truthful or veritisticwould be the most truthful or veritisticresponse, conforming to criteria that weresponse, conforming to criteria that westipulate and impose on ourselves.stipulate and impose on ourselves.

Awareness of 'schema'Awareness of 'schema'

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The transcendental subjectThe transcendental subject

Being aware of how categories and mentalBeing aware of how categories and mentalschema condition thinking and behavior.schema condition thinking and behavior.

Pure consciousness, degrees ofPure consciousness, degrees ofattainment?attainment?


““Transcendental' because of Transcendental' because of reflexivereflexivecapacity, need not be determined by pastcapacity, need not be determined by pastthinking and behaviour, or memory of pastthinking and behaviour, or memory of pastbut rather forward-looking and capable ofbut rather forward-looking and capable ofautonomy and re-creation.autonomy and re-creation.

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'Subject' because of living consciousness'Subject' because of living consciousnessand awareness which is intimatelyand awareness which is intimatelysubjective, subjective, ““inhabitsinhabits”” the world, the world, ““isis”” the theworld.world.

Categories and concepts are humanCategories and concepts are humancreations and their development alsocreations and their development alsobecomes the basis of our constructing thebecomes the basis of our constructing theworld we do.world we do.


Human world and imaginationHuman world and imagination Human self-creation, how we createHuman self-creation, how we create

ourselves.ourselves.

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Perceptive syntheses are products of aPerceptive syntheses are products of ahistorical and operational heritage.historical and operational heritage.

The possibility of a historicization of theThe possibility of a historicization of thetranscendental.transcendental.


Categories capable of universalizing singleCategories capable of universalizing singlepragmatic experiences (How thesepragmatic experiences (How theseexperiences would even be identified?)experiences would even be identified?) ‏‏

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'Transcendental subject' as a shared'Transcendental subject' as a sharedheritage, cognitive or epistemic trustheritage, cognitive or epistemic trustneeded to establish the social bond.needed to establish the social bond.


Understanding what it means to be aUnderstanding what it means to be a'transcendental subject' (that I am this'transcendental subject' (that I am thisparticular existence but open to universalparticular existence but open to universalmeanings) means to be open to newmeanings) means to be open to newconstructions depending on the exchangeconstructions depending on the exchangeand viabilities that arise in the encounterand viabilities that arise in the encounterand engagement.and engagement.

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What would be conditions for trust, that willWhat would be conditions for trust, that willenable the transcendental subject toenable the transcendental subject tochallenge its concrete form, itschallenge its concrete form, itsconfiguration and its concept of self?configuration and its concept of self?


To change our 'ego' in the chance toTo change our 'ego' in the chance tointeract and communicate, in the name of ainteract and communicate, in the name of auniversality of meaning, of a reciprocaluniversality of meaning, of a reciprocalunderstanding which is the fundamentalunderstanding which is the fundamentalelement of mutual trust and humanelement of mutual trust and humansociability.sociability.

'Transcendental subject' as a repository of'Transcendental subject' as a repository ofascribable meanings.ascribable meanings.

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Mutual human understanding presumesMutual human understanding presumesthe universality of categories that apply tothe universality of categories that apply todifferent human experiences.different human experiences.


These human categories give names toThese human categories give names toparticular experiences but are thenparticular experiences but are thenrendered comprehensible because of therendered comprehensible because of theuniversality of human meanings.universality of human meanings.

““When we disagree, we agree that we areWhen we disagree, we agree that we aredisagreeing.disagreeing.”” Meaningful disagreement Meaningful disagreementmade possible by shared language.made possible by shared language.

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A joint project of mutual construction theA joint project of mutual construction theessential task of which is intervening onessential task of which is intervening onour common heritage, molding basicour common heritage, molding basicstructures through which we constitute ourstructures through which we constitute ourreality.reality.


Charity as an openness to the reality of theCharity as an openness to the reality of theOther and to engage in a mutualOther and to engage in a mutualprocessing of meaning-making thatprocessing of meaning-making thatstipulates or assumes parity.stipulates or assumes parity.

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Epistemic violenceEpistemic violence

Epistemic violence means reducing theEpistemic violence means reducing theperson, groups, a set of attitudes andperson, groups, a set of attitudes andbehaviors, to the conceptual schemes andbehaviors, to the conceptual schemes andcategories of the group of origin.categories of the group of origin.

It does not have the purpose of starting anIt does not have the purpose of starting aninteraction, an exchange between twointeraction, an exchange between twogroups on a basis of parity.groups on a basis of parity.


The transcendental process of meaningThe transcendental process of meaningconstitution of group B is reduced,constitution of group B is reduced,obliterated, annihilated, according to theobliterated, annihilated, according to theexigencies of process of meaning formationexigencies of process of meaning formationof group A.of group A.

'Orientalism' is one example. The concept'Orientalism' is one example. The conceptof 'modesty' and 'humility' can be another.of 'modesty' and 'humility' can be another.

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There is also the 'violence' of forcedThere is also the 'violence' of forcedconsensus when only a few voicesconsensus when only a few voicesdominate because there is refusal to fullydominate because there is refusal to fullyrespect the voice of the Other, usingrespect the voice of the Other, usingdemocratic dialogue to compel the other todemocratic dialogue to compel the other tosubmission.submission.

InterrogationsInterrogations

What does interaction and communicationWhat does interaction and communicationon a basis of parity mean?on a basis of parity mean?

What kinds of exchanges allow for mutualWhat kinds of exchanges allow for mutualre-creation?re-creation?

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How does authentic communication allowHow does authentic communication allowfor objective knowledge construction?for objective knowledge construction?


Does science in public places then meanDoes science in public places then meanobjective and certain knowledge?objective and certain knowledge?

the possibility of a transcendental subject by zosimo lee

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