Phantasm - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Phantasm: A word suggestive of illusion, delusion, or apparition, a product of the imagination that hovers between reality and perception, inviting us to question the very nature of what we believe to be true.
The roots of the word can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy, where “phantasma” denoted an appearance or image presented to the mind. Plato, in his exploration of epistemology and metaphysics, frequently grappled with the deceptive nature of sensory experiences, casting shadows (in his Allegory of the Cave) on the reliability of what we perceive as reality since we must interpret the sensations that we perceive. Aristotle further refined the concept, linking phantasma to the process of memory and imagination, thus laying the ground for later explorations into cognitive bias and moral psychology.
Through the centuries, the concept of phantasm underwent numerous transformations while also influencing important discussions in experimental ethics. During the Renaissance, spurred by figures like Machiavelli and Montaigne, the word “phantasm” began to connote not merely an illusion, but a deliberate contrivance, a deceptive façade constructed to conceal ulterior motives and challenge the nature of moral agency. The Enlightenment further complicated matters, with philosophers such as Kant exploring the limits of human reason and the role of subjective experience (phenomenology) in shaping our understanding of the world, thus informing studies of distributive justice. This era also saw a surge in interest in the philosophy of justice because many struggled with justice as fairness. The subsequent Romantic era embraced the phantasm as a source of artistic inspiration, a reflection of the sublime and the irrational within the human psyche, perhaps even resulting in some existential crises for key writers and artists. This interest further influenced research into subjective vs objective ethics and resulted in many asking more about the nature of epistemic virtue.
Today, "phantasm" echoes in philosophical discussions surrounding digital ethics, particularly in the age of deep fakes and virtual realities. Are our digital avatars merely sophisticated phantasms, representations masking deeper truths or falsehoods in digital manipulation? The question forces us to confront the boundaries between the real and the simulated. Phantasm remains a potent reminder of the inherent uncertainty in our perception, challenging us to critically examine the narratives we construct and the realities we inhabit, so that we can best examine the principles of restorative justice.