Jonas Cohn’s philosophical psychology: The path to a dignified personality

This article examines the life-philosophical psychology of Jonas Cohn (1869–1947), a significant but largely forgotten philosopher and psychologist associated with the Southwest German School of Neo-Kantianism. After outlining central Kantian epistemological postulates, we explore Cohn’s extension of these principles into a comprehensive philosophical psychology. His framework is presented through a three-part model. The living “I” refers to the individual’s dynamic structure of needs, shaped by temporal and cultural contexts. The reasoning “I” organizes these needs, forming a coherent identity by mediating between personal goals and the values of the surrounding cultural sphere. Through this process, the person matures into a personality, constituting unity within culture through participation and collaboration. Finally, the transition to a dignified personality becomes possible when individuals recognize that the reasoning “I” is universal and transcends their individuality—the postulate of the pure “I.” The synthesized Cohnian model is subsequently critically evaluated in relation to Kantian critiques and postmodern perspectives within psychology and philosophy. By revisiting Cohn’s contributions, this study demonstrates the contemporary relevance of his framework and its potential to reconnect psychological theory with its philosophical foundations.