Descartes and Husserl: The Philosophical Project of Radical Beginnings (S U N Y Series in Philosophy)

This book explores the profound influence of Descartes' philosophy on Husserl's project for phenomenology. Husserl often cited Descartes as his "spiritual mentor" and the systematic doubt of the Meditations became one of the principal points of departure for beginning phenomenological investigations. However, there is an over-arching parallel between their respective philosophical enterprises which only an intimate and informed knowledge of both Descartes' and Husserl's texts can demonstrate. This convergence in their vision of a radically new beginning for philosophy often comes to the surface in unexpected places, where Husserl creatively mistakes Descartes' discoveries. Husserl remarked that Descartes had remained too true to the original skeptical impetus and not radical enough in his overthrow of that position. The author's research shows that Husserl remained far truer to Cartesianism, precisely in those places where the influence is deeply buried, and less radical than a faithful reading of Descartes' project according to the order of reasons would reveal. Since Husserl's influence on twentieth-century continental philosophers has been so well remarked, this work uncovers the legitimacy of their assessment of his Cartesian point of departure. Descartes and Husserl 2 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 7 Abbreviations 8 1— Introduction: Convergence and Divergence 11 2— Seventeenth-Century Skepticism Versus Nineteenth-Century Empirical Psychology 33 The Seventeenth-Century Skeptical Background—Basic Features 34 Characteristics of Neo-Skeptical Arguments 41 Descartes' Reaction to the Skeptical Challenge 52 The Skeptical Basis of Nineteenth-Century Empirical Psychology 55 Skepticism and Relativism Remove the Very Basis for Theory Construction 60 Husserl's Confrontation with Dilthey's Historicist Understanding 65 Husserl's Refutation of Psychologism Congruent with Descartes' Overcoming of Skepticism 68 3— Order of Reasons Versus Order of Essences: or, Science's Building and Philosophy's Path 72 The Cartesian Method Imitates That of an Architect 86 The Path of Philosophy Is a Journey of Exploration. 90 Husserl's Order of Cognitions and Order of Things 94 4— Simple and Complex Natures and Part-Whole Theory 103 5— Cartesian Ideas Doubtful Matters and Acts of Doubting 129 Doubt is an Act of Positing As-If False 143 The Six Phases of the Cognitive Exercise of Doubting 146 6— Methodical Doubt and the Phenomenological Reduction 159 Persistence of Previous Formal Ontological Schemas 175 The Cartesian Hinge and the Husserlian Hinge: The Gate into Phenomenology 177 The Transcendental Reduction and Its Policy of Eminent Domain 182 Charges of Circularity in Reasoning for the Existence of God and of Other Egos 187 7— Intuition as Seeing With the Mind's Eye 195 Husserl's Early Concept of Intuition in the Logical Investigations 204 Descartes' Mature Notion of Intellective Insight 212 Husserl's Mature Notion of Eidetic Insight 221 Truth Is the Conformity of Thought with Its Object— But Which 'Object'? 229 8— The Concept of Radical Conversion 233 Notes 255 Chapter 1. Introduction 255 Chapter 2. 257 Chapter 3. 260 Chapter 4 263 Chapter 5 265 Chapter 6. 268 Chapter 7. 272 Chapter 8. 276 Bibliography 279 Seventeenth Century Texts and Commentary 279 Husserlian Phenomenology 282 Index 286 A 286 B 286 C 286 D 286 E 287 F 287 G 287 H 287 I 287 J 288 K 288 L 288 M 288 N 288 O 288 P 288 R 288 S 288 T 289 V 289 W 289 Y 289 Presents the first book-length study of the profound influence of Descartes'philosophy on Husserl's project for phenomenology.This book explores the profound influence of Descartes'philosophy on Husserl's project for phenomenology. Husserl often cited Descartes as his “spiritual mentor” and the systematic doubt of the Meditations became one of the principal points of departure for beginning phenomenological investigations. However, there is an over-arching parallel between their respective philosophical enterprises which only an intimate and informed knowledge of both Descartes'and Husserl's texts can demonstrate. This convergence in their vision of a radically new beginning for philosophy often comes to the surface in unexpected places, where Husserl creatively mistakes Descartes'discoveries. Husserl remarked that Descartes had remained too true to the original skeptical impetus and not radical enough in his overthrow of that position. The author's research shows that Husserl remained far truer to Cartesianism, precisely in those places where the influence is deeply buried, and less radical than a faithful reading of Descartes'project according to the order of reasons would reveal. Since Husserl's influence on twentieth-century continental philosophers has been so well remarked, this work uncovers the legitimacy of their assessment of his Cartesian point of departure.Paul S. MacDonald was formerly Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Durham, England, and is currently Lecturer in Philosophy at Murdoch University in Western Australia. This Book Explores The Profound Influence Of Descartes' Philosophy On Husserl's Project For Phenomenology. Husserl Often Cited Descartes As His Spiritual Mentor And The Systematic Doubt Of The Meditations Became One Of The Principal Points Of Departure For Beginning Phenomenological Investigations. However, There Is An Over-arching Parallel Between Their Respective Philosophical Enterprises Which Only An Intimate And Informed Knowledge Of Both Descartes' And Husserl's Texts Can Demonstrate. The Author's Research Shows That Husserl Remained Far Truer To Cartesianism, Precisely In Those Places Where The Influence Is Deeply Buried, And Less Radical Than A Faithful Reading Of Descartes' Project According To The Order Of Reasons Would Reveal. Since Husserl's Influence On Twentieth-century Continental Philosophers Has Been So Well Remarked, This Work Uncovers The Legitimacy Of Their Assessment Of His Cartesian Point Of Departure.--book Jacket. 1. Introduction: Convergence And Divergence 1 -- 2. Seventeenth-century Skepticism Versus Nineteenth-century Empirical Psychology 23 -- 3. Order Of Reasons Versus Order Of Essences; Or, Science's Building And Philosophy's Path 63 -- 4. Simple And Complex Natures And Part-whole Theory 95 -- 5. Cartesian Ideas: Doubtful Matters And Acts Of Doubting 121 -- 6. Methodical Doubt And The Phenomenological Reduction 151 -- 7. Intuition As Seeing With The Mind's Eye 187 -- 8. Concept Of Radical Conversion 225. Paul S. Macdonald. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 271-277) And Index.