Arnold Gehlen’s Anthropological Theory of Institution

• Authors: Michalski Rafał
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The article reconstructs main assumptions and the theoretical context of Arnold Gehlen’s conception of institution. I argue that this conception is mainly a theory of action. At its centre Gehlen sets not so much specific institutions but rather specific forms of human activity that bring to life the over-individual normative structures. He describes them by means of a series of categories which, in his opinion, have a universal character. We do not find any genealogical analyzes here, but only a constellation of concepts deduced a priori, referring to empirical facts.

Keywords

EN

Arnold Gehlen; philosophical anthropology; institution; action; relief; habituation; typification; unspecific obligation; ideative awareness

• Publisher: Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk; Fundacja Filozofia Na Rzecz Dialogu
• Journal: Dialogue and Universalism
• Year: 2018
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 177-193

Contributors

author

Michalski Rafał

• Contemporary Anthropology Chair of the Philosophy Institute of Philosophy, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Fosa Staromiejska 1, Toruń, Poland