L'artifici de la natura humana. Història del mite i controvèrsies contemporànies

Abstract

This dissertation explores, from the perspective of philosophical anthropology, one of the discipline's central concepts: the notion of human nature, and later, intelligence as a core element. Approaching the topic from a tacit anthropological perspective, it traces the history of philosophy and shows how this notion develops and evolves as a key element in diverse metaphysical frameworks, which often translate into policies and ideologies. In the contemporary period, with philosophical anthropology having become an explicit discipline, human nature is addressed through the scientific paradigm. Positions are grouped into two main camps: essentialists, who defend a notion with characteristics of relative universality and fixedness, and constructionists, who promote a historical and cultural conception. The thesis examines the resurgence of classical essentialisms in the present era and critiques their philosophical foundations, analyzing significant texts from relevant authors across various fields. This neo-essentialist phenomenon appears from another perspective with the advent of generative artificial intelligence, within the concept of intelligence, which has proven crucial in defending an essential human nature.

Date of Award	19 Feb 2026
Original language	Catalan
Awarding Institution	Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Supervisor	Jordi Vallverdu Segura (Director)