The Ethical Evolution of Mankind in Husserl’s Phenomenology

Abstract

“We have had thousands of purposes so far, because there have been thousands of peoples. Yet, what is lacking? It is bridles for thousands of heads — one single purpose. Mankind has no aim of its own as yet. Tell me, my brothers: if mankind has no aim — does it exist at all?”¹ wondered Nietzsche, formulating, in effect, the following paradox: does the general notion of mankind (or humanity) serve as a sort of bridle for nations and for the essence of individuals, or is it rather the task and responsibility of the existence of human beings. Perhaps ”humankind“ is a metaphor applicable to individuals, and we think (or fail to think) about mankind in terms of our understanding of separate men and women, thus fostering (or failing to foster) the formation of the spiritual atmosphere of the Earth. If metaphor is a transposition, a meta-phore — transposition (Übertragung) — of meaning from one thing onto another — perhaps ”mankind“ acquires its meaning by way of a transposition from individual beings?

Wir sind also — wie könnten wir davon absehen — in unserem Philosophieren Funktioäre der Menschheit.

(Edmund Husserl)