Husserl

More about the book

Husserl (1858-1938) embodies the last "classical" philosopher of the early 20th century. He believed philosophy should be a reasoned knowledge aspiring to scientific rigor. His aim was to establish philosophy as a "rigorous science." In 1935, he famously stated that the dream of philosophy as a serious, rigorous science was over, but this was not a renunciation; rather, it was a diagnosis of the spirit of his time, which he lamented and sought to combat. For Husserl, fighting against this spirit also meant understanding it and identifying its causes. Throughout his work, he reaffirms the classical ideal of philosophy, but without naivety. He does not suggest that one can simply continue doing philosophy as before, ignoring the increasing presence of tragic irrationality in reality. Instead, he argues that rationalism requires a fundamental reestablishment. This call for a refoundation underpins all of Husserl's thought, emphasizing the need to confront and understand the challenges faced by philosophy in his era.