Personality in personalism: definiteness and transgression

In this article, the basic positions of personalism in the sphere of building philosophical knowledge about the human are explicated. The author explores these positions based primarily on the philosophies of Emmanuel Mounier and Jean Lacroix. He first describes the problem of defining personality as a form of being that does not lend itself to objectification. The concept of personality in personalism turns out to be very non-strict. This concept can not define personality as a subject of anthropological discourse, but it is capable of organising this discourse itself. Personality is always a project of a person who must become himself. Therefore, personality is anytime in the future, it is never available, it is only a task for the person, his goal. Personality is primarily "the desire to be yourself' (Kierkegaard). The author also considers the theoretical and practical aspects of the relationship between the philosophical concepts of personality and individuality. Man as an individual (individuality) is a set of "roles" that are in the state of conflict. A person as a personality is a unity in diversity, an integrative form of a person's conscious presence in the world. Then the author explains the understanding of personality as a transgressive communication in the philosophy of personalism. Personality is active in its self-definition. In his movement to himself, a person constantly goes beyond himself. This movement is not spontaneous, but normatively organised: the freedom to be oneself acts as a guide for such a transcending movement of personality. Freedom means overcoming the limitations and "impermeability" of the individual. Personality is open to the world and to all other people. Communication of solidarity is based on this principle of existential openness and love. In such communication, any personality is perceived as an absolute value. The high level of the value of personality is affirmed by the authority of the Absolute (God), who acts as a guarantor of human freedom in making responsible decisions and choices. The author maintains that in personalism, the philosophy of the human is converted into the practice of being a person, turns into a reflexive experience of finding oneself through a truly communicative existence, that is, through a responsible co-being with others and with the Other.

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