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Direct Intuition: Strategies of Knowledge in the Phenomenology of Life, with Reference to the Philosophy of Illumination

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Phenomenology and the Human Positioning in the Cosmos

Part of the book series: Analecta Husserliana ((ANHU))

Abstract

This article presents phenomenological meta-analysis of Tymieniecka’s phenomenology of life with regard to its strategies of knowledge. The novelty of phenomenology of life consists in special orientation of direct intuition of Tymieniecka’s insight. The analysis suggests that the positioning of the direct intuition differes from philosopher to philosopher. Even though this perspective pays attention to individual differences in philosophical thinking, this view has to be distinguished from psychologism as criticized by Husserl, and rather, seen as a development of Husserl’s theory of direct intuition. A framework for such analysis can be also found in Islamic philosophies of Suhrawardi and Ibn ‘Arabi, who introduced the concepts of individual predisposition, modes of knowledge, and self-knowledge mediated by knowledge by presence. These concepts can be applied to understanding of the origins of philosophical insight. The paper examines in depth the workings of direct, or presentive, intuition in Tymieniecka’s descriptions of the phenomenal field of life, and of life per se as a dynamic object. It demonstrates the dialogical nature of interrogation, and the sentience of logos as a horizon of philosophical inquiry. Finally, the paper introduces the concept of process phenomenology, and suggests directions of future research with regard to phenomenology of imagination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Road, CA, 94709, Berkeley, USA

    Olga Louchakova-Schwartz (Visiting Professor)

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  1. Olga Louchakova-Schwartz
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Correspondence to Olga Louchakova-Schwartz .

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  1. The World Phenomenology Institute, 1 Ivy Pointe Way, Hanover, 03755, New Hampshire, USA

    A-T. Tymieniecka

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Louchakova-Schwartz, O. (2012). Direct Intuition: Strategies of Knowledge in the Phenomenology of Life, with Reference to the Philosophy of Illumination. In: Tymieniecka, AT. (eds) Phenomenology and the Human Positioning in the Cosmos. Analecta Husserliana. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4801-9_19

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