Philosophy Bites
Roger Scruton on Human Nature
Aug 29, 2017
Philosopher and author Roger Scruton discusses human nature, highlighting the limitations of a purely scientific account. He explores the biological explanations for our emotional response to music and the paradoxical relationship between scientific and humanistic approaches. Scruton also explores the concept of the self and the importance of recognizing the other as a self.
18:03
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Quick takeaways
- Scientific explanations cannot fully capture the essence of art and music in human existence.
- There is a tension between scientific explanations and a more humanistic understanding of human nature based on lived experience and interpersonal dialogue.
Deep dives
Human nature as part of the natural world
Human nature is considered to be part of the animal and plant world, as we are natural objects existing within a network of causal laws. However, there are aspects of human existence, such as art and music, that cannot be fully explained by scientific accounts. For example, a piece of music can be described in terms of vibrations and physical interactions with the nervous system, but this does not capture its essence as a form of art. There is a distinction between scientific explanations of the physical world and our understanding and appreciation of it as humans.
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