A Brief Analysis Of Sartre's Theory Of Consciousness

In the introduction of Being and Nothingness,Sartre focuses on the dilemma: either we are in the series of ‘the known-the known of the know-er--the known of the know-er of the know-er--...' it seems to be I can stop at any term in the series.Or it must affirm an infinite regress such as idea of idea of idea...Sartre believes that consciousness must be a direct relationship between self and self,rather than a cognitive relationship.So he proposes the notion of ‘Pre-reflective Cogito'.It means we should not introduce the law of pair in consciousness.Consciousness can be defined as the real existence and the only possible mode of existence.Sartre believes that ‘Pre-reflective Cogito' is the first necessity with which we can establish consciousness in the ontological field,only after which epistemology is possibly.Based on Sartre's original theories and existing researches,in this paper,I will trace Sartre's theoretical development,and show that the transcendental self has become an obstacle in the theory of consciousness.And in Sartre's ontology of existence,the correctness and necessity should be tested.When it comes to the relationship between being and consciousness,notions such as the immanence of self,the transcendence of intention,for-itself and in-itself,nothingness and internal negation should be involved.Therefore,it is very helpful to understand Sartre's ontology of consciousness and the ‘Pre-reflective Cogito' from a holistic perspective.However,Sartre's theory also faces insufficiency,difficulties and challenges.In this paper,I want to focus on the problem of infinite regress in Sartre's theory of consciousness and compare it with High-order theory,so as to see whether they are isomorphist.Sartre's ‘Pre-reflective Cogito' may provide a new way to answer the debate.And I will talk that his consciousness structure here is no need to face the problem of infinite regress.