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Document Details :

Title: De cultus van het individu
Subtitle: Humanisme en de twee wetenschapsculturen
Author(s): MACHIELSE, Anja
Journal: Tijdschrift voor Filosofie
Volume: 81    Issue: 2   Date: 2019   
Pages: 255-280
DOI: 10.2143/TVF.81.2.3286767

Abstract :
The research of the University of Humanistic Studies is emphatically multidisciplinary, with social sciences and philosophy as constituent disciplines. This article explores the social sciences’ contribution to the normative, humanism-inspired research of the university, and the way this contribution relates to philosophical reflection on themes that are central to humanism. This has been done by focusing on a fundamental premise of the humanistic meaning frame, namely the individual’s ability to shape his world. It is investigated how Emile Durkheim and Ulrich Beck — from different academic traditions within the social sciences — conceptualize the freedom and agency of the individual. The analysis shows that these social-scientific analyses yield relevant views for humanist-inspired research into autonomy and self-determination, yet fail to do justice to the life practice and lived experience of real people. My conclusion is that philosophical perspectives are necessary to give substance to the autonomy assumed by humanism to shape our own lives.

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