Pre-Reflectivity

Pre-reflectivity

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When you look into a mirror, 
how can you explain 
that it is truly you 
that you see there?

Pre-reflectivity

The concept of pre-reflectivity goes back to Sartre's talk conscience de soi et connaissance de soi (1947) and describes the idea that every reflective state of consciousness is based on a pre-reflective consciousness and not directly on an unconscious. 
A theory of pre-reflective self-consciousness (TOPS) tries to fulfill the de-se-constraint, which states that an adequate theory of self-consciousness needs to be able to explain how the very basis of subjectivity arises. It further states that all reflective approaches to self-consciousness will inevitably lead to a vicious circle of explanation. 

Despite the very interesting debate on how to exactly define pre-reflectivity, my current research investigates the application of pre-reflectivity to cognitive deviations found in clinical psychology as well as dreaming. 


„Il y a un „cogito“ pré-réflexif qui est la condition du “cogito” cartésien. Toute conscience positionnelle d’object est nécessairement conscience non-positionnelle de soi.” 
 (Sartre, 1947)

COLLABORATIONS


I am very thankful for collaborations with:


Prof. Dr. Dr. Manfred Frank

(Bielefeld University, Germany)

Prof. Dr. Kenneth Williford

(UT Arlington, TX, USA)

Prof. Dr. Gerhad Preyer

(Frankfurt University, Germany)

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