In Search of the Self: Overcoming the Boundaries of Psychoanalysis, Subjectivity, and Identity

The study reveals the problem of individual self-determination within an interdisciplinary approach. The aim is a critical analysis of existing 20th-century philosophical concepts in addressing the problem of the self. The author's focus is on the concept of "subjectivity," which is central in subject-oriented philosophy, in the concept of identity and its numerous variations, as well as having significant importance in psychoanalytic theory. The hypothesis of the research is that the mentioned approaches have a number of shortcomings. The author demonstrates how and why these characteristics prevent individuals from arriving at a productive answer to the question "Who am I?" Individual reflection and self-determination of the contemporary individual are essential both as a vector of theoretical contemplation and as a life practice. The search for orientations in addressing the problem of the self unfolds towards the philosophical ideas of M. Heidegger and M. Foucault. The methodology of the research includes a comparative-historical approach and a critical analysis of the subject problem, conducted using materials from both the Western European philosophical tradition and the studies of contemporary Russian philosophers. The main conclusions of the research suggest the established inadequacy of the resources provided by psychoanalytic theory, classical subject-oriented philosophical thought, and the concept of identity in solving the problem of individual self-determination. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the assertion that M. Foucault's approach to self-determination is the most relevant and pertinent to the current state of reflective discourse. The structure of "care of the self," formulated by M. Foucault, allows any individual to meaningfully characterize themselves while maintaining a dynamic nature of reflection. The author shares the position of M. Heidegger, who showed that care of the self is not a self-enclosure in egoism, but rather a possible expansion of the interpretation of the "self." Any care for oneself can be understood as care for the world, encompassing the existential resource of engagement, courage, will, and practices.