Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to consider, on the basis of several works about Max Scheler's Philosophische Anthropologic and Die Soziologie des Wissens published in 1920, under what characteristics in his theory modern “knowledge” is being analyzed and how this is being interpreted in view of “formation”. In his view modern “knowledge” is characterized by the fact that that the activity of man as homo faber acquiring knowledge is technical. That is, in modern times the subject of knowledge objectivates nature and faces as the content of “knowledge” the thing (Sache) as far as it thus has been limited. This kind of “knowledge” is called scientific “dominating knowledge” (Herrschaftswissen) and has the purpose of technically dominating nature. This, however, was originally only one side of “knowledge”.
In Scheler's thought “knowledge” is divided into scientific “dominating knowledge” (Herrschaftswissen), “formative knowledge” (Bildungswissen) for the formation of man and “redemptive knoweldge” (Erlosungswissen) according to whether the knowing subject, by which the process of becoming (werden) is promoted, is a “thing” (Sache), “man” (Mensch) or “the absolute” (Das Absolute), Furthermore, it is understood that neither of these three types of knowledge can be substituted for one anothei.
But as long as man continues to exist as a “person” he will be a being open toward an “intentional” (meaningful) “world” (Welt). He can realize himself in this without being bound by an “environmental world” (Umwelt), which appears as a relation of “things”. It is there that a more important meaning of “dominating knowledge” which
