RESPONSIBILITY IN THE AGE OF CHANGE: PAUL RICOEUR'S PHILOSOPHICAL ANTHROPOLOGY AS A KEY TO CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

Nargiz Hamid Medzhidova

doi:10.23856/6605

Nargiz Hamid Medzhidova Baku State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3404-3493

Keywords: capable human, will, freedom, ethics, morality, the Other, fallibility

Abstract

The problem of identifying the main characteristics of humans has been and remains relevant; however, its significance has only grown in the context of contemporary scientific development. At this stage of civilizational progress, with increasing intellectual, informational, and technological challenges, and rising demands on humans in a competitive world, understanding the person as a social subject endowed with specific abilities becomes essential. Exploring P. Ricoeur's philosophical anthropology is necessary as his concept of the “capable human” encourages a positive view of the social subject, which is crucial for addressing many contemporary issues and finding reliable existential foundations for human existence. Ricoeur's concepts, such as “capability,” “the capable human,” “human action,” “recognition,” “responsibility,” “promise,” “memory,” and others, have enriched philosophical anthropology. Their comprehension, on the one hand, broadens the tools available in the national philosophy of the human, and on the other, aids in forming an active and responsible outlook necessary in today’s world. Our rapidly changing world presents new questions as social, economic, and environmental conditions evolve. In the age of digital technology, anthropogenic climate change, and the potential emergence of artificial superintelligence, a heightened awareness and cultivation of responsibility become paramount. This article examines how Paul Ricoeur's philosophical anthropology can respond to the challenges of the modern era and discusses how his ideas may foster responsible and meaningful behavior.

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