Il soggetto personale tra fenomenologia e scienze della cognizione

The main contribution of this paper consists in outlining a descriptive ontology of personal subject focused on the fundamental concepts of consciousness and intentionality and their mutual relationship. Such an attempt has to be consistent with the methodological standards and the empirical evidences of today’s cognitive sciences and to get in the broader framework of the debate carried out by the most lively and acquainted sectors of research community. Philosophical reflection must face up to the exigency of finding a third way – or at least a terrain of possible convergence – between sciences of nature and sciences of intentionality. Phenomenology must in particular accept this challenge, since I’m convinced that it can play a lead role in rigorously redefining the categorical apparatus of tradition and common-sense that we habitually use in describing both mental states and their bearer, i.e. the personal subject.