Subject
Hypokeimenon (Greek: ὑποκείμενον), later often material substratum, is a term in metaphysics which literally means the “underlying thing” (Latin: subiectum).
To search for the hypokeimenon is to search for that substance that persists in a thing going through change—its basic essence.
Subjects as conscious entities in philosophy
In philosophy, subjects are typically understood as beings with consciousness, personal experiences, or a unique perspective on the world. This concept is central to many philosophical debates, particularly in Continental philosophy and analytical philosophy.
- Key aspects of subjects:
- Possess consciousness or self-awareness
- Have unique personal experiences
- Observe and perceive objects in the world
- Contrast with objects, which are observed or experienced
“A subject is a being who has a unique consciousness and/or unique personal experiences, or an entity that has a relationship with another entity that exists outside itself (called an ‘object’).”
Reflective questions:
- How does our understanding of consciousness shape our concept of subjects?
- In what ways might the subject-object distinction break down or become blurred?
Consciousness, Philosophy of mind, Subject-object distinction
Historical development of the subject concept
The notion of the subject as a philosophical concept has evolved significantly over time, with major contributions from various philosophical traditions.
- Descartes: Distinguished between thought (subjectivity) and extension (matter)
- German Idealists: Responded to Hume’s skepticism about the self
- Kant and Hegel: Explored how the subject is constituted from sense impressions
- Heidegger: Attempted to move beyond the subject-object dichotomy
“Hegel begins his definition of the subject at a standpoint derived from Aristotelian physics: ‘the unmoved which is also self-moving’” Reflective questions:
- How has the concept of the subject changed from René Descartes to contemporary philosophy?
- What are the implications of Martin Heidegger’s attempt to move beyond the subject-object distinction?
The subject in psychoanalysis and postmodern thought
Psychoanalytic and postmodern thinkers have further developed and problematized the concept of the subject, often emphasizing its fragmented or constructed nature.
- Freud: Introduced the idea of the unconscious, challenging the notion of a unified subject
- Lacan: Developed a model of the split subject, constituted through language and the symbolic order
- Postmodern thinkers: Often question the idea of a stable, coherent subject
“Jacques Lacan, inspired by Heidegger and Ferdinand de Saussure, built on Freud’s psychoanalytic model of the subject, in which the split subject is constituted by a double bind”
Reflective questions:
- How does the psychoanalytic view of the subject differ from earlier philosophical conceptions?
- What are the ethical and political implications of postmodern critiques of the subject?
Psychoanalysis, Postmodernism, Subjectivity in critical theory
The subject-object relationship in epistemology
The distinction between subject and object is fundamental to many epistemological theories, concerning how we gain knowledge of the world.
- Traditional epistemology: Often assumes a clear distinction between the knowing subject and the known object
- Phenomenology: Attempts to describe the structure of experience without this sharp distinction
- Contemporary debates: Continue to grapple with the nature of subjective experience and its relation to objective reality
“With Heidegger, phenomenology tries to go beyond the classical dichotomy between subject and object, because they are linked by an inseparable and original relationship”
Reflective questions:
- Can we have knowledge of objects independent of our subjective experience?
- How might different theories of the subject-object relationship affect our understanding of scientific knowledge?
Epistemology, Phenomenology, Philosophy of science
[2] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-metaphysics/
[3] https://www.ontology.co/subject-metaphysics.htm
[4] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/object/
[5] https://www.jstor.org/stable/2178486
[6] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/metaphysics/
[8] https://aquinasonline.com/the-subject-matter-of-metaphysics/
[9] https://www.britannica.com/topic/metaphysics
[10] https://www.jstor.org/stable/43154832
[11] https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/35182
How does Aristotle’s concept of ‘being qua being’ differ from traditional metaphysical perspectives
What are the main categories Aristotle identifies in his Metaphysics
How do general and special metaphysics differ in their approach to understanding reality
What role do substances play in Aristotle’s metaphysical framework
How does Aristotle’s Metaphysics relate to his work in Physics