Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

192435

"Causa sui"

awareness and choice in the constitution of the self

Calvin G. Normore

pp. 91-107

Abstract

This paper argues that the conception of the self as constituted by its act of awareness of itself emerges from the confluence of three medieval ideas: Augustine's concept of endogenous attention, Avicenna's concept of primitive self-awareness, and Olivi's concept of reflexivity as a necessary feature of personhood. It is Descartes who by his rejection of a distinction between a substance and its principal attribute and his weaving together of these three strands of thought who creates a conception of the self which still plays a central role in contemporary discussions.

Publication details

Published in:

Kaukua Jari, Ekenberg Tomas (2016) Subjectivity and selfhood in medieval and early modern philosophy. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 91-107

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-26914-6_7

Full citation:

Normore Calvin G. (2016) „"Causa sui": awareness and choice in the constitution of the self“, In: J. Kaukua & T. Ekenberg (eds.), Subjectivity and selfhood in medieval and early modern philosophy, Dordrecht, Springer, 91–107.