From technique to normativity

The influence of Kant on Georges Canguilhem’s philosophy of life

Bibliographic Data

ID12028704
AuthorsEmiliano Sfara (0000-0002-5591-7348, Universidade Federal da Bahia, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume45
Issue2
Pages16-16
Publication date2023-04-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHistory & Philosophy of the Life Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0391-9714 • E-ISSN: 1742-6316
PublisherSpringer Nature (PUBLISHER • SG)
DOI10.1007/s40656-023-00573-8
PMID37022509
OpenAlexW4362658101
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited28

Many historical studies tend to underline two central Kantian themes frequently emerging in Georges Canguilhem's works: (1) a conception of activity, primarily stemming from the Critique of Pure Reason, as a mental and abstract synthesis of judgment; and (2) a notion of organism, inspired by the Critique of Judgment, as an integral totality of parts. Canguilhem was particularly faithful to the first theme from the 1920s to the first half of the 1930s, whereas the second theme became important in the early 1940s. With this article, I will attempt to show that a third important theme of technique arose in the second half of the 30s also in the wake of Kant's philosophy, especially Sect. 43 of the Critique of Judgment. This section, which states that technical ability is distinguished from a theoretical faculty, led Canguilhem to a more concrete and practical conception of activity. I will then suggest that it was by considering technique that the concept of normativity, which characterizes Georges Canguilhem's philosophy of life, also took shape

Epistemology · Philosophy of biology · Philosophy of science · Relation (database · Theme (computing · Historical and Literary Studies · Historical and Scientific Studies · Philosophical and Theoretical Analysis · Philosophy

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