1
, The question ‘s
1) What, do you think, is philosophy? (Alinea 1) (PERSONAL QUESTION)
2) What, according to Mall, is Intercultural Philosophy, and what does it make possible? (Alinea
2 and 3)
3) Are Descartes’ ideas on the Soul, and is James’ theory of the Self typical for European views
on the human person? (Maybe one is, and the other isn’t so much – try to give your own view
on the basis of how you understand the texts!) (Alinea 4,5 and 6)
My answers
My name is ………and I am a MKDA student. Although I am a starter in the world of Philosophy, I
have some thoughts I would like to share. ‘What is Philosophy?’ On the encyclopaedia there will be
2776 documents found that could answer that question. This shows that there is not one right answer
on that question. I think that Philosophy is about Life and the existence of Life in a changing world. It
is about asking questions and discovering the meaning of everything and nothing. I think that it is also
about finding out what is happening in our subconscious.
According to Mall, Intercultural Philosophy is a new discipline or a new positioning in the
field of Philosophy. There are many different Philosophical traditions and Intercultural Philosophy its
goal is to bring all these traditions together. 1 Secondly, Intercultural Philosophy is about asking
questions rather than finding answers.2 Furthermore, Intercultural Philosophy believes that there is no
one absolute truth or one absolute philosophical tradition, the different Philosophies are influencing
each other ant they can not be seen as individual. According to Mall, Intercultural Philosophy also
give the opportunity to look at different points of views and examine a Philosophical tradition from
another point of view from your own.3 Intercultural Philosophy shows that Philosophy is not only
about the history of the West, but of all existing traditions in the world.
Mall states that Intercultural Philosophy makes many things possible. There will more
communication and understanding towards different Philosophic traditions when this approach is
followed. There will be looked at different point of views which can have the consequence that there
will be more knowledge gained.
The first questions that needs to be answered is what Descartes his ideas were on the soul and
what James his thoughts were on the Self, then a comparison can be made. According to Descartes the
soul can consist of thoughts and of perceptions (image 1).4 The thoughts are our own self-
determination, that can be found in the soul. The perceptions can be divided in the own determination
of a person, so the will that is caused by the soul or the perception that is caused by the body.
Furthermore, this perception can again be divided in neutral and non-neutral perceptions. Descartes
stated that the soul can be located in the whole body.
James on the other hand argues that a man is what he has and that his emotions and his Self
are based on his possessions and the approval and recognition of his family and closest friends. Unlike
Descartes, James do not divide the Spiritual self in different faculties. James think that this way of
thinking is an abstract way of dealing with consciousness.5 James rather describes the Spiritual Self as
an active element in all consciousness.6
Now that there was looked at what the two thinkers thought, I think that James his theory on
the Self is typical for European views on the human person. Many people in Europe think that they
are what they have or what they are studying. Like me, when I look at the beginning of this
assignment, I say “I am a MKDA student” instead of “I am a person who is studying MKDA”.
Without knowing it I was practising what James was talking about.
1
Mall 2014, p. 68.
2
Mall 2014, p. 69.
3
Mall 2014, p. 71.
4
Descartes 1985, p. 338.
5
James 1890, p. 296.
6
James 1890, p. 297.
Image 1 Descartes
page 338. 2
