Phenomenology: Continuation and Criticism: Essays in Memory of Dorion Cairns PDF
Preview Phenomenology: Continuation and Criticism: Essays in Memory of Dorion Cairns
Phenomenology: Continuation and Criticism PHAENOMENOLOG lCA COLLECTION PUBLIEE SOUS LE PATRONAGE DES CENTRES D'ARCHIVES-HUSSERL 50 F. KERSTEN AND R. ZANER Phenomenology: Continuation and Criticism ESSAYS IN MEMORY OF DORION CAIRNS Comite de redaction de la collection: President: H. L. Van Breda (Louvain); Membres: M. Farber (Buffalo), E. Fink (Fribourg en Brisgau), A. Gur witsch (New York), J. Hyppolitet (Paris), L. Landgrebe (Cologne), W. Marx (Fribourg en Brisgau), M. Merleau-Ponty (Paris)t, P. Ricoeur (Paris), E. Stroker (Cologne), K. H. Volkmann-Schluck (Cologne), J. Wahl (Paris); Secretaire: J. Taminiaux (Lou vain) DORIOI': c."IR;'-;S Photograph C01trteS)' ,1Iichaei .';chrayer F. KERSTEN AND R. ZANER Phenomenology: Continuation and Criticism ESSA YS IN MEMOR Y OF DORION CAIRNS I I MARTINUS NI]HOFF / THE HAGUE / 1973 © I973 by Martinus Nijhojj, The Hague, Netherlands Softcover reprint o/the hardcover 1st edition 1973 All rights reserved, including the right to translate or to reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form ISBN-13: 978-94-010-2379-5 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-010-2377-1 DOl: 10.1007/978-94-010-2377-1 EDITORS' FOREWORD Under the title of "Phenomenology: Continuation and Crit icism," the group of essays in this volume are presented in honor of Dorion Cairns on his 70th birthday. The contributors comprise friends, colleagues and former students of Dorion Cairns who, each in his own way, share the interest of Dorion Cairns in Husserlian phenomenology. That interest itself may be best defined by these words of Edmund Husserl: "Philosophy - wis dom (sagesse) - is the philosopher's quite personal affair. It must arise as his wisdom, as his self-acquired knowledge tending toward universality, a knowledge for which he can answer from the beginning ... " 1 It is our belief that only in the light of these words can phenomenology and phenomenological philosophy be continued, but always reflexively, critically. For over forty years Dorion Cairns has, through his teaching and writing, selflessly worked to bring the idea expressed by Husserl's words into self conscious exercise. In so doing he has, to the benefit of those who share his interest, confirmed Husserl's judgement of him that he is "among the rare ones who have penetrated into the deepest sense of my phenomenology, ... who had the energy and persist ence not to desist until he had arrived at real understanding." 2 In presenting this volume to Dorion Cairns we not only wish to acknowledge his work but also our indebtedness to him for his generosity in sharing that real understanding in such a way that Husserlian phenomenology remains a living philosophy for which one can answer from the beginning. I t is perhaps not inappropriate here to speak of that sharing with others, especially with his students, in a somewhat more personal way. For beyond being a superb scholar intimately con versant with the history of philosophy, as well as phenomenology, 1 Edmund Husser!, Cartesian Meditations, translated by Dorion Cairns (The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1960), p. 2. 2 See below, p. 181. VI EDITORS' FOREWORD Dorion Cairns is unquestionably among the very few philosophers whose presence as a teacher is equally remarkable. Whoever has had the opportunity of talking with him, and of listening to him, has come away with that unmistakable sense of having been with a truly great teacher and an uncommon human being. Whether one's encounter was brief or more prolonged, the impact of his integrity, skill, concern and rigorousness has been deep and lasting. Certainly, for those who have been fortunate enough to have worked at length with him, Dorion Cairns has been and continues to be an exceptional model of philosopher and teacher, and a man of great warmth and dignity. The editors in particular wish here publicly to acknowledge their profound gratitude for their years of study and friendship with him; without them, their lives and understanding of philosophy, and Husserlian phenom enology, would be poorer indeed. In addition to the essays by contributors to this volume, we are especially pleased to include the pUblication of three essays by Dorion Cairns: "A Husserlian Approach to Phenomenology," "The Ideality of Verbal Expressions," and "Perceiving, Remem bering, Image-Awareness, Feigning Awareness." The first two essays are thoroughly revised versions of works previously pub lished; the third essay is published here for the first time. We wish to thank the Harvard University Press for their kind permis sion to reprint the first-mentioned essay, which appeared in its original version in Essays in Memory of Edmund Husserl (1940), edited by Marvin Farber; similarly, we wish to thank Marvin Farber, editor of Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, for his kind permission to reprint the second-mentioned essay which appeared, in its original version, in Philosophy and Phenom enological Research, I (1940). In addition, we gratefully acknow ledge the kindness of Prof. Gerhart Husserl in permitting us to publish his father's letter to E. Parl Welch. We are indeed deeply grateful to those whose contributions have made this volume possible. Above all we must express our debt to Dorion Cairns for his kind permission to reprint, in revised form, his two essays published previously, to publish the third essay for the first time along with his autobiographical sketch. The dedication of this volume to him is, accordingly, equally its dedication to the cause of philosophy to which he has committed EDITOR'S FOREWORD VII himself: "the attempt to understand and criticize the philosophy of Edmund HusserI." * * * After the volume of essays here were completed and in the hands of the publisher, Dorion Cairns died, after having under gone major heart surgery at the Beekman Downtown Hospital in New York City, on January 4, 1973. In recognition of this sad event, the Editors decided to alter the sub-title of the volume: Essays in Memory of Dorion Cairns, and to append this brief note, prepared by Aron Gurwitsch, his close friend and colleague, and Richard M. Zaner, one of his former students and now liter ary executor of Dorion Cairns' estate. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College, in 1923, Cairns received the Sheldon Traveling Fellowship two times, enabling him to go to Freiburg and study with HusserI. A close personal as well as intellectual connection developed be tween the two men, which lasted until HusserI's death in 1938. HusserI repeatedly expressed the very high esteem in which he held Dorion Cairns, as have many others, of different generations, since then. Cairns was a man of a great variety of interests and of a very broad general culture. He spoke French, German and Italian fluently, and read Latin and Greek. Although his main interest was in Husserlian phenomenology, his penetrating and original understanding extended much further, both within the phe nemonological thematic and in other philosophical periods. He was perfectly at home in classical philosophy, especially the modern period: Descartes, classical British empiricism, the Scotish School, Kant, Lotze, Brentano, the earIy history of modern logic. His contributions to phenomenological literature, too, indicate his wide and penetrating range of interests: among the manuscripts he left behind are extensive studies of HusserI's theory of mind (including a theory of thinking, intentionality, evidence, judgment, and other central topics), a complete value theory with a developed ethics as well, and major significant commentaries on all the major works published by HusserI in his lifetime, as well as extensive studies of the major works of Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Kant, Oswald, Reid, the nineteenth- VIII EDITORS' FOREWORD century logicians, Brentano, and many, many others. Beyond this, are lengthy studies in phenomenological epistemology, and horizonal problems of phenomenology. His knowledge, too, ex tended beyond the confines of philosophy to other disciplines. It is hoped that these seminal studies will be able to be prepared for publication. His natural environment was among his students, upon whom he exerted a profound influence and to whom he generously gave of his energy and time, going far beyond the call of duty. His explanations of philosophical texts and his expositions of philo sophical theories were masterful in their sobriety and thorough ness. Devoid though his presentations were of rhetorical embellish ments and momentary "brilliance," one felt a philosophical passion pulsating in them. By his devotion and conscientiousness he gave a living example to his students who responded to him, both as a scholar and a man, with affection, love, and a loyalty which has become very rare in these times. His collaborators were deeply attached to him and he enjoyed the general respect of the phenomenological community. He was one of the founders of the International Phenomenological Society, a member of its Council and also a member of the Editorial Board of PhilosoPhy and Phenomenological Research. His loss is mourned by all who had the privilege of having come into contact with him, in any capacity, and they will forever cherish the memory of a genuine scholar, one of the finest philosophical minds ever to emerge from the culture of the United States, and a noble gentleman and friend. Frederick Kersten Richard Zaner PREFACE For any scholar interested in phenomenology, a discussion with Dorion Cairns became a dialogue with a Socrates redivivus. A few quiet questions from him, and the searcher was led straight to the heart of the matter. Such dialogue never failed to produce new and profound depths of meaning as, unconsciously, one gave birth to new and exciting insights under his gentle probing. Indeed, his was the true maieutic art of delivering one's mind, or heart, of never-suspected hidden visions. In him worked a spiritual mentor, the socratic ooctfLwv, which uncovered rewarding ideas even at a first glance. Many were the talents unearthed by his words. H. L. VAN BREDA President, "Phaenomenologica Editorial Committee" Leuven (Louvain), March 1973
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