The Essentials of Husserl: Studies in Transcendental Phenomenology

Known as the founder of the phenomenological movement, this book examines Husserl’s various phases of phenomenology during his realist, transcendental, static, genetic, and post-Crisis (of European Sciences) periods. Consisting of ten carefully researched and thoroughly examined essays, this book describes Husserl’s concepts and ideas through numerous examples and diagrammatic representations, in a bid to elucidate the nuances of phenomenology for its readers.
Valuable insights into Husserl’s realist phase are made in the chapter on Meaning, and the chapters on Natural Attitude, Epoché and Phenomenological Reduction, while the chapter on Noesis & Noema symbolizes the transcendental phase. Thomas points out Husserl’s transition from static to genetic phenomenology in the chapter on Lived Body, with the chapters on Lifeworld, and the Notion of the Other, later focusing on this perspective. Husserl’s entire phenomenological space, including his pre-phenomenological period, are covered in the chapter on Lived Time. However, the chapters on Phenomenology: The Study of Self and Beyond, and Consciousness and Intentionality are the fulcrums upon which the edifice of phenomenology turns. The final chapter on Presuppositionlessness in phenomenology expresses Thomas’ personal enquiries into Husserl’s contention that phenomenology is a presuppositionless science. This book will be of particular interest to research scholars and post-graduate students in the areas of Philosophy and Social Sciences, as well as those interested in contemporary Western Philosophy, and the history and development of Ideas.

List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgements
Preface

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Phenomenology: A Study of Self and Beyond

Chapter 3 Consciousness and Intentionality: The Perspective of Husserl

Chapter 4 Husserl’s Investigation of Meaning

Chapter 5 Natural Attitude, Epoché and Reductions

Chapter 6 Husserl’s Treatment of Noesis And Noema: Conflict and Convergence

Chapter 7 Husserl’s Examination of Lived Body

Chapter 8 Life world: A Conceptual Overview

Chapter 9 Husserl’s Notion of The Other and Intersubjectivity

Chapter 10 Husserl’s Understanding of Lived Time

Chapter 11 Conclusions

Chapter 12 Appendix

Bibliography
Index

Dr V. C. Thomas was appointed professor at Pondicherry University in 1997 and worked as a visiting scholar to the Department of Religious Studies at Bristol University between 1997-98. Thomas obtained his doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Delhi in 1984. He was presented with the best teacher award in 2011-12 at Pondicherry University, based on selection by students. He has published two books and contributed chapters to several other volumes. He has also published many papers in journals in India, including the Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research (JICPR), the Indian Philosophical Quarterly, as well as overseas publications such as Analecta Husserliana. Dr Thomas has also acted as an editorial committee member for four journals including, Asia-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology (Australia), Pondicherry University Journal of Humanities, and Social Sciences, the JICPR, and the West Bengal State University Journal of Philosophy. His areas of specialization are phenomenology, existentialism and hermeneutics, on which he has organized and lectured in several workshops in India. In October 2017, Dr Thomas conducted lectures exclusively on Husserl’s Phenomenology in Pondicherry, for a period of one month.

Phenomenology, Existentialism, Husserl, Consciousness, Transcendental Ego