On habit and the mind-body problem. The view of Felix Ravaisson
Quote:The author shows the habit manifests the inhabitation of freedom and intelligence in the body (Carlisle, 2013). Indeed, the process of acquiring the habit involves a shift from free reflection to the primitive nature in order to obtain that second nature (to which we refer above), but this in turn serves as a platform for further actions of free reflection. Put succinctly, the habit is the condition of possibility of conscious actions. For example, if a musician composes a song, the realization of this purpose involves the previous acquisition of physical and intellectual habits such as management of musical instruments and of singing techniques, mastery of musical notation and music theory, etc. The most original manifestations of intelligence and freedom are the result of habit.
So, the habit operates in two directions fulfilling a sort of recursive function within the mind-body continuum: downwards, ranging from consciousness to nature (in the process of acquisition); and upwards, ranging from nature to consciousness (once it has taken hold). This double movement attributed by Ravaisson to habit, shows an original anthropological conception, refractory of any dualism or reductionism. Indeed, according to the philosopher, humanity is not confined to the res cogitans, or mere brainhood (as postulated in the mainstream of current neuroscience). The human being is an embodied subjectivity, is a self, the most genuine form of unity.
Thus, the study on habit done by Ravaisson offers a phenomenologic-metaphysical answer to the so-called hard problem of philosophy of mind; an answer long forgotten and hard to locate in the complex map of current theories, which can still provide interesting clues not only to philosophy but also to the current neuroscience of habit.
'Historically, we may regard materialism as a system of dogma set up to combat orthodox dogma...Accordingly we find that, as ancient orthodoxies disintegrate, materialism more and more gives way to scepticism.'
- Bertrand Russell
- Bertrand Russell
