Understanding and subjectivity
Understanding and subjectivity

Summary/Abstract: Where is understanding located? However this question is answered, it is widely assumed that ultimately individual minds do the understanding. But cognitive science has cast significant doubt on the idea of an individual mind, so how can this work? This paper uses the responses of Ismael (2007, 2016) and Hofstaedter (2007) to these cognitive-science challenges a sa basis for developing a conception of individual understanding. It then also suggests that the same conception can trace both objective understanding (of the natural and social worlds) and subjective understanding (of persons, values, reflections on values in art and literature) to a common source in the individual mind’s capability of allocating attention to investment in its mental life. In both cases, understanding is seen to be an extended process, requiring persistent attention, not an isolated event.

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