Structure

The module will be entirely dedicated to a careful commentary upon the first four Meditations, in order to follow the manner in which Husserl first introduces the basic phenomenological tools and concepts and then builds up his crucial argument, namely, the one arguing for the “necessity” of the doctrine of transcendental idealism as the one and only coherent position to endorse. Even though our readings and in-class discussions will be mostly based on the English translation (see below for more information), the original German text will be always kept an eye on.

Requirements

Students will be evaluated based upon the following two distinct parameters:

(1) Participation (which includes, yet is not limited to: doing the assignments, attendance, in-class active participation). If you areabsent, please ask some of your classmates for any assignments or key discussion materials missed.

(2) A 2000 Word Final Paper (deadline for submission, prompt and additional information will be provided in due course)

Course Outline

Week 1

General Introduction to the Module

Week 2

Why “Cartesian”? The Need for a New Beginning in Philosophy

(Introduction: §§1-2)

Week 3

The Idea of Rigorous Science and the Problem of Evidence

(Meditation I: §§ 3-6)

Week 4

The Ego and the World

(Meditation I: §§7-9)

Week 5

Intentionality and The Transcendental Subject

(Meditation II: §§12-14)

Week 6

The Notion of Synthesis and the Life of Consciousness

(Meditation II: §§17-22)

Week 7

The Problem of “Constitution”

(Meditation III: §§23-24, 26)

Week 8

The Idea of Evidence and the World

(Meditation III: §§27-29)

Week 9

Ego, Person, Monad: The Threefold Structure of the Subject

(Meditation IV: §§30-33)

Week 10

Reality and Possibility

(Meditation IV: §§34, 36)

Week 11

Possibilities, Con-Possibilities, In-Con-Possibilities: Toward Transcendental Idealism

(Meditation IV: §§ 36-38, 40-41)

Week 12

A Critical Interpretation: Cartesianism and / or Phenomenology?

(J. Patočka, “Cartesianism and Phenomenology” (notably, pp. 285-317))

Week 13

Recapitulation and Closing Evaluations