Existence and Coexistence of Man and the Problem of Determinism-Indeterminism

Abstract

We can say about man that he is at the same time a Microcosm, being a separate bio-psychical entity, and a part of Macrocosm being in an active interconnection with his social and cosmic environment, i.e. man is at the same time “existence” and “coexistence.” Therefore, the life of man is always determined by two determinisms: (1) by an inner determinism: by the “determinism of existence,” which derives from the inner biopsychical structure of man and its dynamic tension, i.e. from microcosmic essence of man in the process of its transformation into existence of man, and (2) by outer determinism: by the “determinism of coexistence,” which derives from the correlation of man with his social (other men) and cosmic (universe) environment, i.e. from a certain macrocosmic situation of man: from his coexistence. Which of these two determinisms acts stronger in the life of man, giving it a form and direction, depends upon the correlation between the bio-psychical dynamic tension of man and his social and cosmic environment, or, in other words, upon the correlation in man between his existence (microcosmic component) and his coexistence (macrocosmic component).