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Why do some philosophers consider philosophical anthropology an essentially contested concept?

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Fragment of a Roman fresco showing Socrates seated and draped in a white robe, with Greek text above, on a red background with visible cracks. — Philosophical anthropology Socrates, Roman fresco, 1st century bce; in the Ephesus Museum, Selçuk, Turkey.

Philosophical anthropology is considered an "essentially contested concept" primarily due to a fundamental disagreement regarding the nature of human existence and the role of science in defining it.1

The core of this contestation lies between those who advocate for a materialist ontology and those who do not. Proponents of a materialist view, often identifying as philosophers of mind, argue that human nature and mental functions should be understood through the lens of the natural sciences. Conversely, those who describe themselves as philosophical anthropologists typically remain committed to concepts of the soul, mind, and the intellectual, moral, and spiritual dimensions of human personality.1

This creates a conflict over whether the discipline must adopt a materialist framework to be considered "scientific" or if it can maintain a conception of human nature that respects intuitive, commonsense understandings without being dismissed as unscientific. Because there is no consensus on whether a consistently materialist theory of human nature is possible or sufficient, the discipline remains a site of ongoing debate regarding its own methodology and purpose.1