771. On Self-understanding

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On Self-understanding

1. An act of self-understanding (Selbstverständnis) is at once: (1) an act of living, or a vital act (Lebensakt); and (2) an act of thinking, or a cognitive act (Denkakt).

2. As a cognitive act, it is an understanding of existence having a certain content of ideas, or ideal content (Ideengehalt), that can be analyzed and interpreted in two distinct ways, or at two distinct levels.

3. It may be analyzed and interpreted with respect to its surface meaning as a possible world view (Weltanschauung). And it may be analyzed and interpreted with respect to its depth meaning as implying a certain ontology.

4.In both cases, the critical factor in interpreting it is "the 'right' philosophy," in the sense of the appropriate ontological conceptuality in terms of which it can be interpreted.

22 January 2002