L1: "Phenomenology and Existentialism"

Existentialism. The rejection of DESCARTES. "I am, therefore I think" - We exist. There is no need for proof. [Anti-POPPER].

KANT and "The Critique of Pure Reason" [1781] Existence has no purpose, it is just necessary; a pre-condition of consciousness. As we exist, we constantly change and mutate. Our consciousness is subjective (based on the moods of the moment) and aposteriori in nature. 

HUSSERL and Phenomenology (consciousness without reference to external). "Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint" [1874] The metaphysical view that our essence is embodied. Abolition of mind and matter. Instead, mind over matter. Phenomena is presented to us through consciousness as a "thing in itself" (independent).

HEIDEGGER - "Being and Time" [1927] saw the end of the metaphysical outlook. He disagreed with HUSSERL - objects are not independent from mind, instead, they are a refection of consciousness. Objects exist only in the mind. Therefore, there can be no "absolute truth" DESCARTES - No difference between dream and reality.

DASEIN: "way of being"/"being there" (German) Reflective of the perceiver's mood. HEIDEGGERS PROJECT - to live subjectively; an 'authentic life'. Rejection of all philosophy since SOCRATES. ROUSSEAU - to break free from industrial chains.

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"HUSSERL'S Phenomenology" (page 78)

The 'Data of Consciousness' consisting of Physical Phenomena (colours and smells) and Mental Phenomena (directed at objects). 'Intentionality' as the target of a thought. Remains the same whether real or hallucination.

"It makes no essential difference to an object presented and given to consciousness whether it exists, or is fictitious, or is perhaps completely absurd" [HUSSERL, 1901] (page 81)

Immanent Perception (immediate) and Transcendent Perception (past) both depend on consciousness for existence. Consciousness as the "Absolute Being". Intuition - all thought is private to the individual. There is no innate knowledge, only subjective thought. Every thought must have Content and a Possessor.

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"The Existentialism of HEIDEGGER" (page 83)

The concept of Being (DASEIN) as a temporal state. Thinking as a way of engaging with the world that we, ourselves, are a part of. We are beings among other beings - the 'misery of the human condition' [FREUD]. Our reactions are guided by consciousness and reflected through our DASEIN.

The three types of time:

1. "Attunement" - a reflection on the past, which creates guilt.

2. "Discursive" - the present. World of discourses interpreted by language and culture. The problem of Boredom.

3. "Directedness" - looking to the future. All activities contribute towards an end goal, but is eliminated by death. Fear.

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"The Existentialism of SARTRE" (page 87)

'Pre-reflexive consciousness'. There can be no such thing as a CARTESIAN Ego when absorbed in task. It's only by reflection that we become object.

In "Imagination: A Psychological Critique" [1936], JEAN-PAUL SARTRE attacks HUME's idea of the existence of an interior world, where perception and imagination co-exist. Instead, he argues that our imagination relates to extra mental objects - knowledge is not innate.

Influenced by HEIDEGGER, "Being and Nothingness" [1943] states how man only exists for himself. He is free, but cannot escape the necessity of his own existence. Human freedom is "absolute", yet we are reduced to objects in context of the external world.

"Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains" [ROUSSEAU]

In "Existentialism and Humanism" [1946] he goes on to say how Being precedes Consciousness and that the "Pure Being" is not constrained by the existing moral order. The "Pure Being" exists "without reason, without cause, without necessity" (page 88).


Source:
Kenny, Anthony "Philosophy in the Modern World" (2007)