THE PHILOSOPHICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS AND EXISTENCE
Annotation:
This article analyzes the philosophical connection between human beings and existence. It examines the place of humans in being, their relationship with nature and society, and the interaction between consciousness and matter from a philosophical standpoint. The article compares the views of Eastern and Western thinkers on the relationship between the human and existence with modern philosophical concepts, substantiating the idea of harmony between human thought and being.
Keywords: human, existence, philosophy, consciousness, matter, thought, being, nature, spirituality, Eastern and Western philosophy.
Introduction
The philosophical connection between the human being and existence has been one of the central themes of philosophy since ancient times. Humans, as a part of existence, are also the beings who perceive, transform, and give meaning to it. Therefore, understanding the role and position of the human in existence has been a significant subject in every era of philosophical thought.
Eastern thinkers such as al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, al-Biruni, and Alisher Navoi considered the human being a creature striving toward moral and spiritual perfection. Western philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hegel, and Kant emphasized the active role of human reason in comprehending existence. In contemporary times, the issue is interpreted more deeply through the lenses of ecology, technology, and ethical values.
Main Part
The Philosophical Essence of the Concept of “Existence”
The concept of existence encompasses everything that is present — nature, society, humans, and consciousness. Philosophically, existence is the general form of being, the unity of everything that exists or may exist.
Materialist philosophers such as Democritus, Epicurus, Marx, and Engels argued that the foundation of existence is matter. According to them, consciousness is a product of matter, and humans, being part of nature, comprehend and transform it.
Idealist philosophy, on the other hand, regards the foundation of existence as an idea, spirit, or God. Plato maintained that true being exists in the realm of ideas, while the material world is only its shadow. Hegel explained existence as the process of the “absolute spirit” knowing itself.
The Place of the Human Being in Existence
A human is a conscious being capable of understanding, transforming, and valuing existence. The role of humans in being is twofold:
1. On the one hand, humans are inseparable from nature as part of it;
2. On the other hand, thanks to consciousness and intellect, humans comprehend being in a conscious and reflective manner.
Ibn Sina stated that “a human understands himself through understanding existence.” Al-Farabi wrote that “the path to happiness lies in knowing existence and living in accordance with it.”
In the modern world, the balance between humans and existence is reflected particularly in ecological issues. Although technological progress enables humans to transform nature, preserving the natural balance of existence has become a philosophical and ethical necessity.
Human and Existence in Eastern and Western Philosophy
Eastern philosophy views humans in harmony with existence, emphasizing spiritual purity and moral perfection. Navoi’s concept of the “perfect human” connects the human role in being with ethical and spiritual development.
Western philosophy, by contrast, focuses on the active cognitive role of the human being — understanding existence through reason, logic, and experience. Kant described the human as “a being who understands the world through experience,” while Hegel considered the human “a spirit analyzing existence through reason.”
Thus, Eastern philosophy emphasizes spirituality and harmony, whereas Western philosophy prioritizes intellect and cognition. Both perspectives complement each other in explaining the deep philosophical connection between humans and existence.
Conclusion
The philosophical relationship between the human being and existence remains an eternal subject of human thought. A human is part of existence; yet, at the same time, the only being capable of understanding and transforming it. To comprehend existence is to comprehend oneself.
Therefore, the moral development of the human, the freedom of thought, and ethical responsibility are inseparable aspects of understanding existence. In today’s age of globalization and rapid technological change, harmonious coexistence between humans and existence — protecting nature and fostering spirituality — becomes an essential philosophical direction for the future of humanity.
Thus, the philosophical connection between human beings and existence represents one of the most fundamental questions of human thought. Humans, as both part of being and its conscious interpreter, form a unified, mutually dependent system with existence.
References
1. Hegel G.W.F. Philosophy of Spirit. Moscow: Mysl, 1977.
2. Ibn Sina. Kitab al-Shifa. Tashkent: Fan, 1980.
3. Al-Farabi. The Virtuous City. Tashkent: Yozuvchi, 1993.
4. Kant I. Critique of Pure Reason. Moscow: Nauka, 1994.
5. Alisher Navoi. Mahbub ul-Qulub. Tashkent: G‘afur G‘ulom Publishing, 1983.
6. G‘afurov B. Fundamentals of Philosophy. Tashkent: Uzbekistan, 2010.
7. To‘xtasinov A. Philosophy of Human and Existence. Samarkand: SamSU Press, 2021.
Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso was born on May 22, 2006, in Denov district, Surxondaryo region. She is currently a second-year student at the Faculty of History, Denov Institute of Entrepreneurship and Pedagogy.