The Problems of Consciousness in the Studies of M.K. Mamardashvili and A.M. Pyatigorsky

Merab Mamardashvili and Alexander Pyatigorsky developed a 'metatheory of consciousness' in their joint work 'Symbol and consciousness' (completed 1974, published 1982), describing the structure of consciousness and seeking a universal synthesizing category. They viewed consciousness as a combination of content and form, a sphere of symbols and interpretations, and called their approach 'symbology,' where different symbol systems arise through understanding. Mamardashvili later focused on consciousness and individual self, moving toward 'real psychology'—concrete consciousness turned to life phenomena—while Pyatigorsky developed 'observational philosophy' combining phenomenology and Buddhist theory, emphasizing an impersonal observation process and the external observer as a structure of consciousness.

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Abstract

The research devoted to the studies of Merab Mamardashvili and Alexander Pyatigorsky, their philosophical approaches to understanding consciousness. M.K. Mamardashvili and A.M. Pyatigorsky first presented the “metatheory of consciousness” in the joint work “Symbol and consciousness” (completed in 1974, published in 1982). The basics of their “metatheory” are the description of the “structure of consciousness” and the search for “universal synthesizing category”. Mamardashvili and Pyatigorsky saw in consciousness universal combination of content and form, sought to substantiate consciousness as sphere of symbols and interpretations. They called the general direction of their research work “symbology” and believed that different symbol systems are formed in the process of understanding. The book “Symbol and consciousness” became the basis for further researches by Mamardashvili and Pyatigorsky. Mamardashvili preferred to focus on the relationship between consciousness and individual self, relying on Western European tradition of philosophy. In “Cartesian meditations”and “Lectures on Proust”, he developed the concept of consciousness, moving from the “metatheory of consciousness” to “real psychology”, by which he understood concrete consciousness turned to the phenomena of life. Pyatigorsky chose different research way: on the basis of “metatheory of consciousness” he developed “observational philosophy”, substantiated the concepts of “observer” and “observation”. For Pyatigorsky, observation process is impersonal, and external observer is the structure of consciousness and the object of observed thinking. Pyatigorsky created “observational philosophy”, combining phenomenology and Buddhist theory of consciousness. Mamardashvili did not abandon personality as metaphysical center of cognition and continued to develop philosophical tradition coming from R. Descartes.