Abstract
Is there a phenomenology of unconsciousness? How does posing this question impact both the very conception of phenomenology as a philosophical enterprise and of unconsciousness as a concept participating to the very definition of psychoanalysis? What is unconsciousness, if it can be thought of, not only in psychoanalysis, but also in phenomenology? What is phenomenology, if there can be a phenomenology of unconsciousness? The multifaceted determinations which Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Levinas give to unconsciousness summon notions as crucial as consciousness, subjectivity, humanity, nature, being, and go down to redefining the very concepts of phenomenon and logos without which there could be no phenomeno-logy. Placing the notion of unconsciousness within the scope of phenomenology allows considering not only conscious but also unconscious subjectivity, and allows characterizing both asubjective and subjective modes of being unconscious. Considering this framework will help understanding the scope of the question: is there a phenomenology of unconsciousness? Yes, the investigation of unconsciousness participates to the very definition of phenomenology; No, phenomenological conceptions of unconsciousness do not leave intact the defining limits of phenomenology, but pushes them further by the mobilization of a surplus it intrinsically contains and that is revealed in its investigation of unconsciousness: ontology and ethics .
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Notes
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Throughout this text, the parenthesis contains the following information. The first number, in square brackets, indicates the date at which the work referred to has first been published, or the conference referred to has been pronounced. The second number indicates the date of the edition used here, as listed in the reference list. The last number indicates the pagination as in this edition.
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All translations of this text are here mine.
- 3.
Translation modified. Note that Merleau-Ponty here talks about the body. I transfer this thought to his consideration on Nature, assuming that the body is notably, for Merleau-Ponty, a natural body, and as such, an incarnation of Nature.
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Translation modified.
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From here to the end of this paragraph, translations of this text are mine.
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Translation modified.
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Translation modified.
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Translations of this text are here mine.
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Translations of this text are here mine.
References and Endnotes
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Legrand, D. (2017). Is There a Phenomenology of Unconsciousness? Being, Nature, Otherness in Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Levinas. In: Legrand, D., Trigg, D. (eds) Unconsciousness Between Phenomenology and Psychoanalysis. Contributions To Phenomenology, vol 88. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55518-8_6
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