Husserl A Guide For The Perplexed

Continuum's Guides for the Perplexed are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to fathom, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material. Edmund Husserl's work is a cornerstone of Continental philosophy and the phenomenological tradition. Husserl stands as a key influence on such major philosophers as Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty and Sartre, and is required reading for anyone studying phenomenology and European philosophy of the last 100 years. However, the complex ideas central to his work, and the rather convoluted language in which they are expressed, mean that arriving at a full and clear understanding of Husserlian phenomenology is no small undertaking. Husserl: A Guide for the Perplexed addresses directly those major points of difficulty faced by students of Husserl and leads them expertly through the maze of complex ideas and language. In identifying and working through common sources of confusion arising from Husserl's philosophy, the book builds up a comprehensive and authoritative overview of his thought and, more broadly, of phenomenology itself. The text covers the central tenets of phenomenology, Husserl's work on consciousness, and key philosophical topics in Husserl, including psychologism, intersubjectivity, the lifeworld and the crisis of the sciences.

Continuum's Guides for the Perplexed are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to fathom, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material. Martin Heidegger is one of the twentieth century's most influential, controversial and challenging philosophers. His Being and Time is a landmark text in modern philosophy, required reading for anyone studying Continental thought. However, the concepts encountered in Heidegger are intricate and frequently confusing, while the language through which they are articulated is deliberately dense and obscure. Heidegger: A Guide for the Perplexed is a thorough, cogent and reliable account of Heidegger's philosophy, ideal for the student who needs to reach a sound understanding of this complex and important thinker. The book covers Heidegger's oeuvre in its entirety, offering not only exposition of Being and Time, but also his later work. His perspectives on, and contributions to, both ontology and phenomenology are explored in full, as is the concept of Dasein, Heidegger's term for the human way of existence. Geared toward the specific requirements of students who need to reach a sound understanding of Heidegger's philosophy, this is the ideal companion to the study of this most influential and challenging of twentieth century philosophers.

Paul Ricoeur was one of the giants of contemporary Continental philosophy. He also knew and drew upon the Analytic tradition. Over a long life, he pursued questions of philosophical anthropology as they relate to a good life, lived with and for others in just institutions. His work has been translated into numerous languages and widely discussed by legal theorists, historians, literary critics, and theologians as well as philosophers. Ricoeur: A Guide for the Perplexed is the ideal text to support anyone trying to reach a firm understanding of this important contemporary philosopher. The guide locates Ricoeur's output in its historical and intellectual context, provides an overview of Ricoeur's central ideas and defines carefully the key terms in his philosophical writing. Close attention is paid to each of Ricoeur's major works, including The Conflict of Interpretations and From Text to Action. Ricoeur's importance for particular disciplines - including literary criticism, social theory, political philosophy and theology - is explained and explored. Above all, this Guide for the Perplexed offers constructive and illuminating suggestions for how to read Ricoeur. A major contribution to Ricoeur scholarship in its own right, it is also an invaluable companion to be read alongside Ricoeur's own works.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty was one of the most important figures in the existential and phenomenological traditions in twentieth-century Continental philosophy. Merleau-Ponty: A Guide for the Perplexed is the ideal text for students encountering Merleau-Ponty's philosophy for the first time. The book assumes no prior knowledge of the subject, and takes the reader though the key themes in Merleau-Ponty's work, casting light on complex ideas, including - crucially - his interpretations of 'perception', 'embodiment' and 'behaviour'. Most importantly this Guide for the Perplexed offers a full and authoritative explication of Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological account of human behaviour.

This is a student's guide to the life and work of Augustine; a notoriously challenging thinker, widely read in Philosophy and Christian Theology. The book provides a concise and coherent overview of Augustine, introducing all the key concepts and themes, and is ideal for undergraduates who require more than just a simple introduction to his work and thought.

Jürgen Habermas' work ranges across critical theory, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, the philosophy of science, citizenship and democracy, religion and psychoanalysis, forging new paradigms and engaging with other key thinkers. Habermas: A Guide for the Perplexed is the ideal starting point for anyone studying Habermas. It follows Habermas's critical and philosophical project through all the stages of its development - the early critical theory, the linguistic turn, communicative action and discourse ethics, the theory of deliberative democracy -building up a complete overview of his work, and offering close and incisive analysis throughout.

Kierkegaard is an important literary and religious figure, as well a major philosopher whom students may have a difficult time comprehending- this guide provides a clear and concise understanding of his work

Existentialism is often studied by students with little or no background in philosophy; either as an introduction to the idea of studying philosophy or as part of a literary course. Although it is often an attractive topic for students interested in thinking about questions of 'self' or 'being', it also requires them to study difficult thinkers and texts. This Guide for the Perplexed begins with the question of 'What is Existentialism?' and then moves on to provide a brief analysis of the key thinkers, writers and texts - both philosophical and literary - central to existentialism. Chapters focus particularly on Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre and Camus but also discuss other philosophers and writers such as Nietzsche, Dostoevsky and Kafka. The second section of the Guide introduces key topics associated with existentialist thought; Self, Consciousness, the question of God and Commitment. Each chapter explains the concepts and debates and provides guidance on reading and analysing the philosophical and literary texts addressed, focusing throughout on clarifying the areas students find most difficult