Hans Zillmann makes a philosophical contribution to the question of the possibilities and limitations of a neuroscientific concept of the subject. Using the philosophy of symbols by Ernst Cassirer and other approaches, he demonstrates that scientific descriptions of the subject are contextual on two levels: both the subject as the object of research and the formation of neuroscientific theories are embedded in a cultural-historical context. This paper elaborates on the necessity of a balancing dialogue between philosophy and neuroscience, as well as the contextuality of these discussions.