The Representation of the Openness of Consciousness in some Current Theories of Human Nature

Abstract

The openness of consciousness, particularly pivotal to Sartre's early philosophy, gives immense difficulty to those who wish to give a comprehensive account of human nature. In this paper I note the treatment of human awareness of the world in some current theories: • Sociobiology/evolutionary psychology • Freudian psychoanalysis • Cognitive psychology • Radical behaviourism • Symbolic interactionism, discourse analysis, and discursive psychology • Postmodernism The issue (as Merleau-Ponty pointed out) is one of giving due weight to both to the creativity of consciousness – its ordinary productivity – and to the connectedness of awareness to the events of the world. This dual structure of openness has not been fully captured by contemporary theories.