Formation of «the subject» in the philosophy of P. Ricoeur

Abstract

The article is devoted to the formation of person’s identity in the context of philosophical ideas of P. Ricoeur. Ricoeur’s transformation of reflexive philosophy determines the substitution of classical subject (transcendental as approached by Descartes, Kant, Fichte, Husserl, or illusive as approached by Nietzsche) by a real human person. The author outlines that Ricoeur’s conception of personality is closely connected with the question «Who» (who acts, who speaks, who is responsible for oneself). Ricoeur’s hermeneutics of the «subject» proves that the supreme level of a person’s constitution is the ethical one. The characteristic feature of Ricoeur’s philosophy is that his researches of the «subject» are historical and fragmental. He refuses the draw finale conclusions, so Ricoeur’s conception of formation of human personality is open to critic and further development.

Keywords:

P. Ricœur, reflexive philosophy, person’s identity, formation of the subject, hermeneutics, ethics, education