JUSTIFICATION

The question is raised, whether the explanation on the characteristic features of mankind, is to be considered a scientific or a philosophical task. The anthropological approach to this question was highly disputed from the beginning.

Johann Friedrich Blumenbach's doctoral dissertation and recognized work De Generis Humani Varietate is nowadays considered as the foundation of scientific physical anthropology, the study of the origin and evolution of human races. Scientific anthropology provides a comprehensive theory of social evolution and thus explains cultural development. From the scientific point of view culture takes place in the individual human brain. The origin and driving force for human behaviour is situated in culturally-acquired neural modules and it is human behaviour that produces artefacts, such as e.g. social organizations.

It was I. Kant who saw a peculiarity of anthropology in being divided into a materialistic-physical and an idealistic-pragmatic orientation. According to this division some scientists describe mankind from the perspective of the theory of evolution. They view mankind as a highly developed being but who can only be quantitatively distinguished from the animal. Others prefer a humanistic scientific approach and emphasize the freedom of decision and underline the possibility of self-determination as an exceptional characteristic of mankind. It is exactly the human personality that distinguishes mankind from animals.

Philosophical anthropology is considered a reaction to these points of view . It is an attempt to unify different ways of understanding human behaviour. Philosophical explorations are aimed at analysing human nature and condition. Similarly, L. Wittgenstein has a particular stand-point which is considered a turning point between scientific and philosophical anthropology. The aim of this conference is to promote the discussion on current issues in the field of anthropological research.