6533b828fe1ef96bd128871a

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Słupy Herkulesa

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In ancient times, the Pillars of Hercules marked the boundary of the world known to man. In the present days, they can serve as a good metaphor of the limits of our knowledge and cognition, which should be exceeded. Karl Jaspers constantly reminded of this. On the one hand, Jaspers - similarly to Kant - indicates that reason must know its limits: it cannot to know the whole world, the beginning of life and consciousness. On the other hand, Jaspers adopts the position of Socratic humility and shows that the aim of philosophy is the elucidation of existence, the method of philosophical thinking that leads man to himself. Philosophy exceeds its powers (it ventures into the Pillars of Hercules) when it gives man the illusory knowledge o f himself and of the purpose of his life. This happens both in total conceptions of man, and in gnosis. Jaspers thought that to the extent in which the limits of scientific knowledge are experience and logie evidence, the limits of philosophy is the possible existence which manifests itself by acting in the world. Fulfilling it is a matter of choice which is beyond recognition and knowledge.