|
|
Phenomenology has been a dominant intellectual force in recent continental Europe, influencing such diverse areas as psychology, sociology, anthropology, theology, aesthetics, and literary criticism. Its philosophical foundations are primarily due to the German philosopher Edmund Husserl (1859-1938), and our course will focus on his work. By coming to understand phenomenology as presented in Husserl's philosophy, we may hope to obtain a perspective from which other phenomenologists, and also the extra-philosophical appeal of phenomenology, can be appreciated.
Husserl's phenomenology is partly an epistemological program, which attempts to work out a distinctive methodology for investigating traditional philosophical questions and clarifying the foundations of knowledge in general. (Phenomenological methods are typically thought of as contrasting with the methods of natural science and analytic philosophy.) Husserl's phenomenology is also a philosophical theory about the nature of human consciousness and experience, centering on the concept of intentionality and the role of meaning in human experience.
After discussing these two aspects of Husserl's philosophy, we will consider some of the important modifications and developments of it made by his student Martin Heidegger (1889-1976).
The course presupposes some familiarity with issues in epistemology and metaphysics, especially as represented in the tradition from Descartes through Kant. The official prerequisites are 6 units of philosophy, including Phil 350 (Epistemology & Metaphysics) or Phil 355 (Philosophy of Mind & Metaphysics). Students unsure of their background in these areas should consult the instructor.
Students who successfully complete the course should achieve all of the following: