Conceptions of the Human

The article introduces a multidimensional classification of images of the human, encompassing a broad range of approaches in philosophy, science, and techno­logy. The classification is structured along eleven analytical axes that outline continua of possible interpretations of the human: from the basis of the image and levels of analysis to models of rationality, embodiment, and technological embeddedness. Taken together, these axes provide a framework for mapping the diversity of conceptions of human existence, highlighting their interrelations and differences, as well as the scope of each conceptual perspective. The proposed map functions as a tool for systematizing heterogeneous images of the human. It enables comparison between philosophical theories, empirical sciences, educational and medical practices, social interventions, and technological projects in which assumptions about the human are often implicit. By exposing hidden presuppositions and mitigating risks of reductionism, the map creates conditions for genuine interdisciplinary dialogue. The classification gains particular relevance in the context of ongoing technological transformation.

Context (archaeology) · Diversity (politics) · Presupposition · Range (aeronautics) · Relevance (law) · Scope (computer science) · Cognitive Science and Education Research · Digital Media and Philosophy · Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations