Kuhn, The Phenomenological Concept of Horizon

7/23/2019 Kuhn, The Phenomenological Concept of Horizon

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THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL CONCEPT

O F H O R I Z O N

Helmut Kuhn

H E C O N C E P T

o f h o r i z o n w i t h its f a m i l y o f c o m p o u n d s

a p p e a re d f i rs t i n Hu sse r l ' s Ideen ( 1 9 1 3 ) , s i m u l t a n e o u s l y

w i t h t h e d i sc l os u r e o f t h e t r a n s c e n d e n t a l t y p e o f

p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l r e s e a r c h . I t s o o n a s s u m e d , i n H u s s e r l 's

o w n w o r d s , a n a l l - c o m m a n d i n g r o l e ,

1

p re scr i b i n g t o p h e -

n o m e n o l o g y a n a b s o lu t e ly n e w m e t h o d .

2

T h u s i t is in the

n a t u re o f o u r su b j e c t - ma t t e r t o f ra me i t s t re a t me n t a s a s t u d y

o f t h e p h e n o m e n o lo g i ca l me t h o d . A s t h i s is f a r t o o gre a t

a subject to be ful ly dealt with in short compass, I propose to

pu t in re l ie f on e aspec t of th is m eth od . I shal l presen t it as

a d e v e lo p me n t o f e x p e r i e n ce , t h a t i s , o f a t y p e o f k n o w le d ge

w h i ch p e rp e t u a l ly sp r i n gs f ro m t h e co n t a ct o f t h e i n t e l l i ge n t

m i n d w i t h o b j e c t s o f a l l k i n d s . T o t h i n k o f Hu sse r l ' s t e a c h i n g

a s o f a mo d e rn P la t o n i sm s t a n d i n g i n co n t ra s t t o t h e a n a ly s i s

o f e x p e r i e n c e i n i t ia t e d b y L o c k e a n d H u m e is m i s l e a d i n g a n d

d e t r i m e n t a l t o a f a i r a p p ra i sa l o f h i s a ch i e v e m e n t s . T h i s is n o t

t o s a y t h a t p h e n o m e n o l o g y s h o u l d b e c l as s e d w i t h e m p i r i c i s m .

T h e v o t a r i e s o f e x p e r i e n c e c o m m o n l y r e q u e s t u s t o c l e a r o u r

mi n d o f a l l b e l i e f s a n d ge n e ra l i t i e s t a k e n o n t ru st o r e n gra i n e d

b y h a b i t a n d t o g i v e o u rse lv e s w h o le - h e a rt e d ly t o t h e e x p e r i -

e n c e d w o r ld . P re c i se ly t h is is e n j o i n e d b y Hu sse r l . B u t h e

warns us a lso not to le t ourse lves be deceived by the fa lse

p re t e n s i o n s o f t e n a t t a ch e d t o t h e ge n e ra l i za t i o n s o f sc i e n ce a n d

n o t t o t a k e f o r u l t i m a t e re a l i t y t h e c lo a k o f i d e a s ca s t o v e r

n a t u r e b y m a t h e m a t i c a l p h y s ic s . T h e f a c t t h a t w e a r e a b l e

t o e x p la i n co lo rs i n t e rms o f a mi cro co smi c me ch a n i cs d o e s

n o t w a r r a n t t h e a s s er t io n : c o l o rs a r e i n r e a l i t y e t h e r - w a v e s

o f a d e t e r m i n a t e l e n g t h , o r t h e y a r e n o t h i n g b u t e t h e r -

w a v e s . T h e t r a d e s m a n o n t h e m a r k e t , H u s s e rl s ay s, h a s

1

Logik p 177

2

Med itations Cartesiennes

p 42

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T H E C O N C E P T O F H O R I Z O N 0 7

his trut h the truth of the m ark et. Is tha t not, take n in its

relat ions, a good truth and the best of which he may avai l

himself? Is it the me re sem blan ce of a truth , because the

scientist, form ing his ju dg m en ts w ith respe ct to othe r relations,

other goals and ideas, seeks a different sort of truths and

because these truths, though instrumental within a far broader

ran ge of app l icat ion, h ap pe n to be unfit just for the purposes

o f t h e m a r k e t ?

3

The assert ion that philosophy develops experience is

equ ivo ca l , and so is the epi thet em p ir ic a l a f f ixed to phi l o-

sophical systems or procedures. It m ay m ean (a) that

philosophy moves on the same level with special ized empirical

research, either combining its results into a systematic whole

or ca rv in g ou t for itself a special sector of exp erien ce. In th e

second place, the notion may be (b) that philosophy has to

wo rk on exp erience , subject in g i t to a cr it ical analysis . Phi-

l osophy, then, as the ex pe r ie nc e of expe r ience , wo u l d

constitute a new plan e of reflec tive exp erien ce. In this second

sense alone phenomenology can claim to be a development of

expe rience. It is an attem pt to base philosophical analysis on

an impartial and adequate account of what real ly happens in

experien ce. For the attainm ent of this end, the concept of

h o r iz o n is one of the foremost instruments.

In order to grasp the meaning of the notion under analysis ,

it may be well to retrace the steps of the terminological

creat ion from wh ich it sprang . T h ree e l ements of mean ing

may be pointed out , a l l three adumbrated by the pre-philo-

soph ical usage. (1) H orizo n is the ul t im ate circum ference

within which al l things, real and imaginable, are bound to

app ear . T o explore the hor izon means to m ove awa y from

the ordinary foci of attention with a view to integrating the

things at han d in a broa der and ever broa der context . T h e

idea of horizon stands for the progressive drive inherent in

exper ience. (2) W hi le l imit ing the total i ty of g iven things,

the horizo n also fram es i t . T h e frame of a picture, tho ugh

for m ing no pa rt of it , helps to con stitute its who leness. Sim i-

Logik

p. 245.


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i o 8 H E L M U T K U H N

larly , the horizon determines that wh ich it fram es. T h e fact

that the object is fra m ed by a horizon is relevant to its m ode of

app eara nce . Its w ay of being is essentially a being w ith in .

Hence horizon as a guiding notion enables us to reveal shades

of m ean ing cast on the object by its environm ent. It stands

fo r the striving afte r intensification and concreteness. (3) B y

its ver y nature every horizon is o p e n . As we move from the

center toward the circumference fresh horizons open up.

We are constantly invited to transcend the boundary of our

field of vision. Th is process is either infinite or lim ited . In the

first case, no truth would be attainab le. W e could m ake no

statem ents bu t prov isional ones. In the second case, the

limitation would have to be provided by something outside

all imaginable horizons, that is, by some non-empirical factor

(analogous to the shape of the globe, which limits the shifting

from one h o riz o n , in the original sense of the wo rd, to

an oth er). T h u s the notion of horizon points to a basis of

experience outside experienc e. It stands for the impetus of

self-transcendence with which experience is animated.

The following discussion of the three aspects enumerated

takes up and uti lizes a notion conceived by Husserl without

con fining itself to an interpre tation of his w ord s. T h e valu e of

the term under consideration consists in its functional char-

acter. T h e und erlying idea cannot be located somew here

with in a systematic fram ew ork . It is not a sediment of the

process of know ledge but a principle anim ating it. It shows

itself only in operation. Th ere for e its m eanin g has to be

explained by exemplification rather than by a systematic

delimitation.

I . H O R I Z O N A N S W E R S T O T H E D R I V E F O R

E X T E N S I O N

I perceive some visible object, say this brown wooden box

right in front of m e on the tab le at wh ich I am sitting. R e -

flecting on this event, I distinguish two elements: First, the

thing perceived with its manifold sensuous qualities; not this

box, however, as forming a part of the real world, but this


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T H E C O N C E P T O F H O R I Z O N 1 0 9

s a m e o b j e c t i n s o f a r o n l y a s i t i s a n i n g r e d i e n t o f t h a t p i e c e o f

o r g a n i z e d i n n e r l i fe w h i c h , a s e c o n d a g o , f ille d m y c o n s c i o u s -

n e s s a n d w h i c h l e n d s i t s e l f n o w t o a r e t r o s p e c t i v e a n a l y s i s .

T h i s f ir st e l e m e n t m a y b e l a b e l e d p e r c e p t . T h e p e r c e p t ,

h o w e v e r , is m e r e l y a s p e c if i c f o r m o f w h a t h a s b e e n d u b b e d

noemab y H u s s e r l a t e r m w h i c h c u t s ac r o ss t h e b o r d e r - l i n e s

o f p e r c e p t i o n , r e c o l l e c t i o n , i m a g i n a t i o n , a n d t h e o t h e r f o r m s

o f e x p e r i e n c e . Noema i n o t h e r w o r d s , d e n o t e s i n d i s c r i m i -

n a t e l y t h e t h i n g p e r c e i v e d , r e m e m b e r e d , f a n c i e d , e x p e c t e d ,

a n d so f o r t h , t h e o b j e c t o f a l l o b j e c t i v a t i n g a c t s . S e c o n d l y ,

t h e r e is t h e a c t o f p e r c e p t i o n v i s u a l i z e d a s a d y n a m i c s t r u c -

t u r e . A g a i n t h i s is a m e m b e r o f a n u m e r o u s f a m i l y o f a c t s ,

a s p e c i f i c a t i o n o f w h a t fa l ls u n d e r t h e g e n e r a l n o t i o n o f noesis.

C o m m o n t o a l l t h e s e a c t s is t h e i r b e i n g d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s o m e -

t h i n g , t h e i r m e a n i n g o r i n t e n d i n g s o m e t h i n g . T h e y a ll p o i n t

t o a n o b j e c t a s t o t h e i r e n d . P e r c e i v i n g , t h i n k i n g , f e e l i n g ,

r e m e m b e r i n g , h a t i n g w e p e r c e i v e , t h i n k , f e e l, r e m e m b e r ,

h a t e s o m e t h i n g o r s o m e b o d y . I t is t hi s p e r v a s i v e c h a r a c t e r -

i st ic o f t h e m e n t a l o p e r a t i o n s i n w h i c h p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l

a n a l y s i s c e n t e r s . I t s r e c o g n i t i o n e n t a i l s n o l es s t h a n a c o m p r e -

h e n s i v e c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g o f t h e h u m a n m i n d . T o

d e n o t e t h is d o m i n a t i n g s t r u c t u r e o f o u r c o g n i t i v e a n d e m o t i v e

l i f e , H u s s e r l u s e d w o r d s a n d c o m p o u n d s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e

L a t i n intenlio, a S c h o l a s t i c t e r m r e s u r r e c t e d b y F r a n z B r e n t a n o .

I n m o s t c a s e s , t h e t e r m t e l e o l o g i c a l w i l l d o a s a s u b s t i t u t e .

W h i l e w e a r e p e r f o r m i n g t h e a c t i t s e l f , a b s o r b e d o r , a s

H u s s e r l w a s f o n d o f s a y i n g , l i v i n g i n t h e a c t , w e a r e u n a b l e

t o b e c o m e a w a r e o f i t. T h e o b j e c t h o l d s o u r a t t e n t i o n to t h e

e x c l u s i o n o f e v e r y t h i n g e l se . T h e a c t r e v e a l s it s e lf a s a t e l e o -

l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e o n l y t o a s u p e r v e n i n g r e f l e c t i o n , t h a t i s , t o

a n o t h e r t e l e o l o g i c a l a c t w i t h i n w h i c h t h e f o r m e r a p p e a r s a s

a n o b j e c t . E v e r y o b j e c t i v a t i n g a c t is a p t t o b e c o m e t h e o b j e c t

o f a n e w o b j e c t i v a t i o n , a n d i t i n v a r i a b l y u n d e r g o e s t h i s

m e t a m o r p h o s i s w h e n i t is s w e p t i n t o t h e p u r v i e w o f o u r r e -

flec tiv e c o n s c i o u s n e s s . H e n c e t h e r e f l e c t i o n w h i c h b r i n g s

a b o u t t h i s t e l e s c o p i n g o f a c t s , a n a c t c o n s t a n t l y p e r f o r m e d

i n e v e r y d a y l if e , is t h e p r o t o t y p e o f t h e m e d i t a t i v e p r o c e s s i n

p h i l o s o p h y . T h e s t r u c t u r e d e s i g n a t e d b y t h e t e r m intentio


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I I

H E L M U T K U H N

run s th ro ug h th e to ta l fie ld of phi losoph ica l resea rc h . F ro m

the phenomenologica l poin t of v iew, phi losophy i s an ana lys i s

of th e inne r li fe view ed as a crea t ive im petu s tow ard obje ct i -

va t ion .

A comparison of the two const i tuents of the whole ac t shows

the pr imacy of the objec t iva t ing s t r iv ing over the ready-made

object , of the noesis over the noema At any ra te , th i s pr imacy

exists for th e analysis of th e act . T h e act as a w ho le doe s n o t

become vis ible to us unless we free ourse lves from the absorp-

t ion in the object as s imply given or discovered, forc ing

instead into view the same object as perceived, bel ieved,

rem em be re d in shor t , as an e le m ent of a presen ta t ive ac t ,

as the end (t los) of an intentio I t is ow ing to the pro m ine nce

given to the objec t iva t ing ac t iv i ty tha t the composi te of th i s

ac t iv i ty and i t s corre la te objec t , tha t the whole ac t , becomes

access ib le. Ye t an ot he r a rg um en t , ca r ry ing even m ore weigh t ,

po ints in th e sam e dire ct io n. W e assign to the obje ct a specific

ch ara c te r , it s objec t iv i ty . O bjec t iv i ty m ay be def ined as the

independence of the objec t of the mode of i t s apprehens ion .

The pos i t ive meaning a t the back of th i s nega t ive def in i t ion

appears to be tha t the objec t i s the invar iant pole or t losof

an un l im ited series of va riab le ac ts . A n ob ject has object iv i ty

in so far as i t can be perceived, remembered, desired, and so

fo rth , successively w ith ou t losing i ts iden t i ty . I t ra th er g ains

i ts iden t i ty f ro m these ac tu a l or po tent ia l va r ia t ions . O bjec t iv-

i ty is not a mysterious qual i ty which locates things beyond the

flux of conscious life . It sim ply ind icate s the possibil i ty of

keeping the objec t ive something before our menta l eye as

persis tent , or again of dismissing and then recal l ing i t as

un a l te rab ly the sam e. T hu s the very objec t iv i ty of the objec t

is to be def ined in term s of th e ob ject iv at in g act ivi ty. T h e

quest ion as to whether or not this assert ion ent i t les us to speak

of the objec t a s co n s t i t u te d by th e corre la te ac t s can no t be

discussed in this con nec t ion . A posi t ive answ er w ould lead

stra ightway to the ideal is t conclusions of Husserl ' s la ter

wri t ings.

These p re l imina ry remarks supp l i ed the e l ementa ry no t ions

indispensable for any phen om eno logica l ana lys i s. W e now


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T H E C O N C E P T O F H O R I Z O N

I I I

return to our example, the perception of the wooden box.

The percept of this perception admits of a further distinction.

There is f irst the visual image of the thing, secondly the per-

ceived thing in its entirety. T h e two are not congruo us w ith

one another, as the second evidently protrudes beyond the

first. O nly th ree sides of the ob ject are presente d in the visua l

im age , placed there in juxt apo sition as parts of the visual plane

and marked off against the background by color and l ight.

W e see, ho we ver, the thing as being spatial, hav ing eight sides,

a smooth surfac e, etc. I can turn the box round with my h an d,

making sure what it feels l ike and bringing into view its

opposite side. O r I m ay look at it fro m the fa r corne r of the

room . Th ese and other changes of v iewp oint are not m erely

adventitious w ith reg ard to the initial perc eptu al act. T h ey

develop potentialities predelineated in the original percept.

We do not see an aggregate of color-impressions as the

associationist psycho logy wo uld ha ve us do. T h e adh erents

of this school rarefied the actu al percept into an abstract und er

the gu idan ce of cert ain preconceived ideas. Th eir congeries

of impressions is an idealization of experience in the same

sense as A . S . Edd ington's often quoted scie nti f ic ta bl e ,

consisting of an eddy of electric charges, is another such

idealization determined by other leading concepts.

4

In reality

we see the concrete thing, this box . T h e visual im age p re-

senting one aspect of the thing is charged with potentialities

potentialities which may be unfolded by coordinate percepts

revealing furth er aspects of the sam e thing, B y its ve ry natu re

the initial aspect is one am on g cound ess others. It signifies

something other than itself, conveying the more or less

deciph erable index of related views of the same thing. W e m ay

or we may not care to actualize these potentialities, either by

actua l ly turning round the thing or by performing in im agina-

tion som e act of this kin d. In a ny case the poss ibility of this

change of viewpoint exists, and it exists not only as a bare or

fact ua l possibility. It is a b a r e po ssib ility that, by some

awkward movement, I may knock the box off the table .

This is irrelevant to the appearance of the object, an arbitrary

The

ature

of

the

Physical World (New Y ork, 1928 ) , p . x i i.


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I I 2 H E L M U T K U H N

s p e c i f i c a t i o n o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f m o v i n g o r h a n d l i n g t h e

o b j e c t . A n d t h i s l a t t e r p o s s i b i li t y is r e l e v a n t i n d e e d . R e l e -

v a n c e in t h i s c o n n e c t i o n m e a n s t h a t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o r s e r ie s o f

p o s s i b i l i t ie s is i m p l i e d i n t h e p e r c e p t . I t f o r m s a c o n s t i t u t i v e

e l e m e n t o f t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e t h i n g .

T h e p o t e n t i a l i t ie s w h i c h w e h a v e i n m i n d a r e c l u s t e r e d

r o u n d t h e v i s u a l i m a g e . W e c a n n o t e l i m i n a t e t h e m w i t h o u t

d e s t r o y i n g t h e u n i t y o f t h e p e r c e p t . T o i n t r o d u c e h e r e t h e

c o n c e p t w e a r e a i m i n g a t is m e r e l y a q u e s t i o n o f t e r m i n o l o g y .

H o r i z o n is b u t a n o t h e r n a m e f o r t h e t o t a li t y o f o r g a n i z e d

s e r i a l p o t e n t i a l i t i e s i n v o l v e d i n t h e o b j e c t a s noema that i s ,

a s t h e i n t e n d e d o b j e c t o f a n i n t e n t i o n a l a c t . T h e r a y o f

c o n s c i o u s n e s s i l l u m i n a t e s a s m a l l c e n t r a l s p h e r e , t h e s e n s u o u s

s u b s t r a t u m i m m e d i a t e l y g i v e n to o u r v i s u a l , a u d i t o r y , o l f a c -

t o r y , o r t a c t u a l p e r c e p t i o n . A r o u n d t h i s f o c u s t h e r e is a h a l o

o f p o t e n t i a l p e r c e p t i o n s s h a d i n g o f f t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e f o c a l

c e n t e r . N u c l e u s a n d h o r i z o n t o g e t h e r c o m p o s e t h e p e r c e p t

o r , m o r e g e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , t h e o b j e c t i n m i n d . H o w e v e r ,

t h i s c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f t h e h o r i z o n is a s y e t o n e - s i d e d . W e

m o v e d , a s i t w e r e , o n l y w i t h i n o n e o f t h e s e v e r a l d i m e n s i o n s

w h i c h t o g e t h e r m a k e u p th e h o r i z o n i n i ts e n t i r e t y . T h o s e

p o t e n t i a l i t i e s o r i m p l i c a t i o n s w h i c h so f a r s e r v e d t o i l lu s t r a t e

o u r p o i n t c o n s t i tu t e w h a t h a s b e e n t e r m e d t h e i n n e r h o r i -

z o n b y H u s s e r l . T h e e x p l i c a t i o n o f t h o se a n t i c i p a t e d a s p e c t s

t o w h i c h a l o n e w e h a v e c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n l e a d s i n t o t h e i n t r i n s i c

s t r u c t u r e o f t h e o b j e c t . A s w e s e n d o u r g l a n c e t r a v e l i n g

t h r o u g h t h e o p e n s t r e t c h e s o f t h e h o r i z o n , t h e t h i n g b e f o r e u s

o f f e r s i t se l f i n e v e r f r e s h a s p e c t s . E x p l i c a t i o n , c a r r i e d o n i n

t h i s d i r e c t i o n , i s i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n . B u t w e m a y a s w e l l t u r n i n

t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n a n d m o v e a w a y f r o m t h e o b j e c t . A l l t h e

s a l ie n t c h a r a c t e r i s t ic s o b s e r v e d i n t h e i n n e r h o r i z o n

t h e r e l a t i o n o f p o t e n t i a l i t y t o a c t u a l i t y , c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n t i c i -

p a t i o n a n d g r a d u a l u n f o l d i n g o f a n t i c i p a t e d f e a t u r e s r e c u r

mutatis mutandisi n t h e n e w field . T h e p e r c e i v e d t h i n g , t h e b o x

b e f o r e m e , is m o r e t h a n i ts m o m e n t a r y a p p e a r a n c e , b u t i t is

a l s o m o r e t h a n t h e m u l t i p l i c i t y o f i ts a s p e c t s . I t is o n t h e

t a b l e , b e s i d e t h e i n k s t a n d , i n t h e s t u d y , s e r v i n g a s a r e c e p t a c l e

f o r p e n c i l s . I t h a s i ts o u t e r h o r i z o n a s w e l l a s i ts i n n e r .

5

6

Erfahrung und Urteil p 28


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T H E C O N C E P T O F H O R I Z O N 1 13

There is no such thing in our experience as an isolated

obje ct . T h e perceived th ing is relate d to oth er things , to i ts

closer an d w ider en viro nm en t. All these relat ions take n

together form an organized whole , the w or ld . T h e objec t

before m e is an objec t w i th in the w or ld . A gain th is re la ted -

ness is not an incidental addit ion to the object taken in i tself ,

an add i t ion which migh t as wel l be d is rega rded . Seeing the

thing, I see also its relatedness, though only by way of impli-

cat ion , as the as-yet-shadowlike cou rt rou nd th e focus of

pe rcep t ion . Fu r the rm ore , bo th the ou te r and the inner ho r i-

zon are inext r icably in terwoven wi th the

temporal horizon

The present perception of the object before me is a l ink in a

ch ain of success ive perceptio ns eac h of w hich ei th er ha d or wil l

ha ve a presence of i ts ow n. A ccording ly, the appr eh en sion of

the th ing poin ts both ways : to the immedia te and remote pas t

on the one hand, to the immedia te and the d is tan t fu ture on

the o the r . T he t em pora l cha rac te r s of the s t r e am of con-

sciousness , the rem em br an ce of the past as well as the

expe ctanc y of com ing th ings , in form the present appre hen s ion .

T h e o n c e a n d t h e j u s t n o w , t h e r i g h t n o w , s o o n ,

and la te r , a re s t ruc tu ra l fea tures of th a t com plex wh ole

which is the ever-shif t ing temporal actual i ty of our con-

sciousness.

6

Both the outer and the inner hor izon are permeated by the

tem pora l d i m en s io n of exper ience . T he ve ry t e rms by

which we explained the s ignif icance of the horizon, such as

ant ic ipa t ion , a c tua l iza t ion of the poten t ia l , expl ica t ion , in -

volve an e lement of t ime. H ow ever m uc h I a m absorbed in

the momentary objec t of my a t ten t ion , the d i rec t inspect ion

will invar iab ly be borde red by a f r in g e of re t rospect ion

an d prospec t ion. T h e box I a m looking at is fam il iar to me .

T h a t i s, the ac tua l pe rcep t is welded toge ther w i th a long

series of form er objec t ivat in g acts , or ra th er w ith their sedi-

m en tat ion , the well-know n, of ten seen, eas ily recognized

th in g. I nev er sim ply see an obje ct. I see it aga in, I discover

i t , s tare or glance a t i t, s tumb le over i t ; in short , my aw areness

of i t is a lways t inged by some temporal mode of apprehension.

6

Cf . Huss er l s Vorlesungen zur Phnomenologie des inneren ^eitbewusstsetns (Ha l l e ,

1 9 2 8 .


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1 14 H E L M U T K U H N

Again, the present percept points forward to i ts successors .

T h e ob ject offers i tself in var iou s mod es as ab idin g or eva-

nescent , w i th the prom ise of i ts fu tu re presence , as a m om en -

tary or as a per iodica l appearance .

T he re ar e relat ive discontinuit ies , bu t the re is no rea l b rea k

in the t em pora l backg round enc ir c ling the h e re and n o w

of actu al i ty . T h e absolutely new is inconceiv able. N ove lty

exis ts only in co nju nc tion w ith fam il iar i ty . Ev ery object , it

was asser ted a while ago, presents i tself within the world.

A nd th is wor ld is the wor ld of the perc ip ien t . N ow w o r l d

defined in terms of temporal experience is an organized body

of expe ctat ions based o n recollect ions . Previous to an y s ingle

exper ience , our min d is a l read y ar m ed w i th a f ram ew ork of

regions , out l ines , and typical shapes of experienced objects .

To perceive an object means to locate i t within this system of

expecta t ions . C om par ed w i th the ac tua l percep t ion , the

ex pe ctat ion of w h a t a thin g of such an d such a sor t m a y look

l ik e is ind is t inc t , a m ere d ia gra m . W ith respect to th is

do rm an t m old , th e percep t ion w hich aw akens i t is a fu l fi l l-

m ent . T h en the ac tu a l sa tu ra te d exper ience in i ts tu rn lays

the foundat ion of new more or less formal ized expecta t ions .

Both e lements , however , an t ic ipa t ion and n isus toward

c o n t in u a n c e , t h e b e f o r e a n d t h e h e r e a f t e r , d o n o t b e l on g

to sep ara te acts in th e succession of experiences . T he y are

ra ther ingredients of the one ac t under cons idera t ion , com-

pos ing the temporal hor izon of the objec t in tended, the

noem

And each previous or subsequent act has i ts own

temporal ex tens ion , i t s own pas t and fu ture .

On the s trength of the above analysis , i t may not be over-

bold to assert that seeing this box before me I see the whole

wo r ld w o r l d tak en in the s t ric tly subjec t ive sense to

wh ich we conf ined th is te rm . Prerequ is i te for the com ing

about of th is percept ion i s , e .g . , the acquain tance wi th spat ia l

objects of a character is t ic make-up: f i l l ing a cer tain sector

of the total space, being l imited by other objects , vis ible when

exposed to l igh t , impenet rab le to touch , having a de terminate

w eight , e tc . T he se are th e fea ture s I exp ect things to bea r .

Th ey cons t i tu te the basic l ineam en t o r s t y le in wh ich


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I bu i ld u p m y p ic tur e of the wo r ld . I ca nn ot perce ive th i s box

or any o the r ob jec t un less i t fits in to the prec once ived pa t te rn .

A poe t m a y fanc y a wo r ld d i f f ere n t f r om ours . Bu t i ts d iver -

gence f rom rea l i ty wi l l be conf ined to var ia t ions wi th in the

ac ce pte d schem e of things . T h e disp ute of real is t ic versus

ideal izing ar t springs , in the las t analysis , f rom the problem as

to how to de termine the l imi t s o f the unal terab le groundwork

of re ali ty . It is of no use to sea rch for a be gi nn ing of the

an t i c ip a to ry pa t t e rn of t he wor ld w i th in expe r i ence . W he r -

ever t he re is exper i ence , ru d im en ta r y t ho ug h i t m ay be ,

t h e r e is a l r e a d y t h e t y p ic a l m u n d a n e h o r i z o n a r o u n d t h e

envisaged objec t s . W e m ay t race i ts d i f fe ren t ia t ion a n d

t rans fo rmat ion , no t i t s commenc ing i n t ime .

At the outset , we dis t inguished the act as a te leological

s t r u c t u r e (noesis) f rom the object as the goal of this act (noema);

in o ther words , the th ink ing (cogitatio) f r o m t h e t h o u g h t

cogitation ) . W e ha ve now to sub divid e the tw o s ides of this

d iv i sion . O n th e p a r t o f th e noema,a nu cleu s ha s to b e set

over agains t i ts co ur t o r hor iz on . In an ana logo us fash ion the

act as in te n d in g fa ll s in to the d i rec t v i sual iz ing of th e ob je c t

on t he one hand , t he concomi t an t a iming a t i t s background

on the ot he r . En visag ed un d e r i t s f irst m od e, w e f ind th e ac t ,

so to speak , as a s t raig ht ra y of consciousness hi t t in g th e o bje ct .

T h e second m od e of i n t e n d in g (if a l l owance wi ll be m ad e

fo r t he i nev i t ab l e i naccu racy o f t h i s me taphor i ca l abb rev i a -

t ion) i s to be l ikened to a s t ream of dispersed l ight enveloping

the cen t ra l ray and te rm ina t ing in a d im ly l it ha lo . A t the

back of this seemingly ar t i f ic ial c lass i f icat ion wi th i t s dupl i -

cated dual i ty there l ies , as we saw, a weal th of s t ructures which

in the i r en t i re ty cons t i tu te exper ience .

N . H O R I Z O N A N S W E R S T O T H E A S P IR A T I O N

A F T E R C O N C R E T E N E S S

The hor izon induces the inves t iga tor to t ravel f rom the

center th rough cont inuous l ines of connect ion to per iphera l

regions. N ow I propos ed to conside r , in this second pa rt of

my a rgumen t , t he coun te rmove wh ich checks and supp le -


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1 1 6 H E L M U T K U H N

m e n t s t h i s c e n t r i f u g a l d r i v e , t h e r e f l u x , a s i t w e r e , f r o m t h e

c i r c u m f e r e n c e t o w a r d t h e c e n t e r . I n t h e m e a n t i m e , h o w e v e r ,

i t h a s b e c o m e o b v i o u s t h a t t h e t w o t e n d e n c i e s a r e n o t t o b e

s e p a r a t e d , n o t e v e n f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e x p o s i t i o n . T h e i d e a

o f t h e d i a s t o l e o f k n o w l e d g e i m p l i e s t h a t o f t h e s y s t o l e a n d

vice versa T h e t w o c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e t w o c o m p o n e n t s o f t h e

i d e a o f h o r i z o n t o t h e n o t i o n o f t h a t w h i c h l ie s b e y o n d

t h e i m m e d i a t e l y g i v e n o n th e o n e h a n d , t o t h a t o f t h e

i n h e r e n t p o t e n t i a l i t i e s o n t h e o t h e r . T h e l i g h t o f e x p l i c a t i o n

i l l u m i n a t i n g t h e h o r i z o n w i l l n e c e s s a r i l y s t r e a m b a c k t o t h e

c e n t e r a n d s h e d a f r e s h c l a r i t y o v e r t h e i n i t i a l a s p e c t o f t h e

t h i n g p e r c e i v e d . T h e b r o a d e r th e c o n t e x t i n w h i c h I s ee a n

o b j e c t , t h e m o r e c o n c r e t e w i l l b e i ts a p p e a r a n c e . I c o m p a r e ,

f o r e x a m p l e , t h i s l i tt l e b o x k n o c k e d o v e r a n d f a l l i n g o f f w i t h

t h e s u n t r a v e l i n g a b o v e t h r o u g h t h e s k y . N o d o u b t t h e t w o

t h i n g s a r e s u f f i c i e n t l y h e t e r o g e n e o u s . Y e t I h a v e s o m e t h i n g

d e f i n i t e t o g o o n , i f I s t r i k e t h i s c o m p a r i s o n . I a m s i m p l y

f o l l o w i n g l i n es a d u m b r a t e d i n t h e h o r i z o n of m y i n i t ia l p e r -

c e p t . T h e o b j e c t o f f e r s i ts e lf a s a t h i n g i n t h e w o r l d , a n d

r e v i e w i n g t h is b r o a d e s t c o n t e x t I e n c o u n t e r a m o n g o t h e r

t h i n g s t h e s u n a s l ik e w i s e b e i n g i n t h e w o r l d . F u r t h e r m o r e ,

t h e s u n a n s w er s t o t h e s a m e c a t e g o r i c a l e x p e c t a t i o n s w h i c h

a r e f u l f i l l e d b y t h e v i s i o n o f t h e b o x : t h e y b o t h f i t i n t o t h e m o l d

c h a r a c t e r i z i n g b o d i e s i n m o t i o n . I n o t h e r w o r d s , w i t h i n

t h e o r g a n i z e d b o d y o f e x p e c t a t i o n s t h e c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n

w h i c h w e h a v e g i v e n t o t h e u l t i m a t e h o r i z o n o f t h e p e r c e i v e d

o b j e c t t h is o b j e c t a n d t h e s u n a r e e n c o m p a s s e d b y t h e s a m e

s t r u c t u r a l f e a t u r e . T h e b a r e f a c t o f p u t t i n g t h e t w o t h i n g s

s i d e b y s i d e m a y l e a d t o d i v e r g e n t r e s u l t s . I m a y a r r i v e a t t h e

i d e a o f s y m p a t h y p u l l i n g w i t h i n v i s i b l e s t r i n g s b o t h s u n a n d

f a l l i n g b o x ; o r , a s a b e n e f i c i a r y o f m o d e r n s c ie n c e , I m a y c o m e

t o d i s c o v e r th e l a w o f g r a v i t y . I n e i t h e r c a s e a f r e s h c o n c r e t e -

n e s s w i l l a c c r u e t o t h e v i s i o n o f t h e o b j e c t . I t w i l l a p p e a r

m o r e d i s t in c t l y a s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f s o m e t h i n g b e y o n d

i t se l f. P r o g r e s s i n k n o w l e d g e t e a c h e s u s h o w t o s e e b e t t e r

t h i n g s n e a r a t h a n d b y s e e i n g t h e m i n t h e i r t o g e t h e r n e s s w i t h

d i s t a n t t h i n g s . T h e a n c i e n t I o n i a n s , f o r e x a m p l e , o b s e r v e d

p e r i o d i c a l a l t e r n a t i o n a s a p e r v a s i v e f e a t u r e o f t h e e x p e r i -


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enced wo rld. Th is observation of widest ran ge stimulated a

closer attention to perio dical ch ang es within t-he h um an bo dy

and thus paved the way for scientific physiology.

O ur prog ram , then, cann ot be carried out literally. W e find

that the drive toward intensity or concreteness has already

been taken care of by the treatment of the centrifugal nisus.

W e m ay , ho we ver, raise the question of concreteness in its

s tr ic tly g e ne ra l f o rm . W h a t d o c o n c r e t e a n d a b s t r a c t

mean, and what right do we have to use the latter term with

an overtone of dep reciation ? In answ er to this question the

reply will be made that experience in the indicated sense,

that is, the immediate awareness of objects offering them-

selves as presen t, is the true locus of concreteness. O u r no tions

deserve the tit le c o n c r e t e by virtue of their clearly defined

reference to these original acts of experience. There is no

question of confining direct experience to merely sensuous

perceptions or impressions. T h e simple percep t is perm eated

throug hou t and informed by universal structures. Brea king

up this unity we shall find that its two elements, taken singly,

are a b s tr a c t, the sensuous m aterial no less than the con-

ceptua l fram ew ork. Bo th acts and intended objects are also

abstract when taken as self-contained wholes detached from

the network of actua l experience. T h e m ean ing of the object

as well as the truth of the intending act can only be ascertained

by the elucidation of its horizons in continuous chains of

explications. N o proposition or jud gm en t carries the gu ar an -

tee of its va lidity in itself. Hu sserl's ow n theo ry at an e arlier

stage was not free from abstractness in so far as it seemed to

lan d us in a m ultitude of indep ende nt essences. T h e notion of

horizon was instrumental in overcoming this deficiency.

Knowledge has to keep close to experience, the source of

concreteness. O n the other han d, knowledg e has to go

beyond the immediacy of experience; that is, it has to deal

with more or less detached generalities and to that extent

canno t help being abstract. T h e two assertions, contrad ictory

on the surface, are actually in perfect har m ony . M od er n

phys ics, for instance, is abs tract indeed . It redu ces the da ta

of experience to terms of locomotion defined by spatio-


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1 1 8

H E L M U T K U H N

tem po ral relations. T re at in g sensuous qua lities as m ere

indications of mechanical events, it arrives at a radical

qua ntification of experience. Th us it m akes the most of the

great discovery that reality as a spatial-temporal phenomenon

can be expressed in mathematical terms and that this mathe-

matical idealization enables us to plan and predict events

with a high deg ree of precision. N ow this dec ided ly a bstract

or, as we had better say, idealized rendition of reality is

meaningful and understandable only in conjunction with the

primary untampered experience from which it is abstracted.

It results from the one-sided and strictly methodical explora-

tion of a set of features typical of primary experience, features

ordinarily perceived as a litt le articulated lineament in the

horizon of objects. In ord er to ve rif y his findings the physicist

has to take recourse constantly to the fulness of unabridged

experience and to reenact the idealization from which his

science stems. A n d w ha t is here said of physics in its relation

to experience applies with proper modification to the other

branches of knowledge.

From this legitimate abstractness we distinguish its counter-

feit replica. T h e foreshortening of reality in acco rdanc e w ith

some conceptual scheme is perfectly justified provided the

meaning and limited bearing of the idealization is borne in

m ind. T h e spectacu lar success, how ever, of the exp lan ator y

scheme of physics inveigled philosophers into reversing the

true relationship between original experience and quantifying

idealization. T h e possibility of read ing nature in a math e-

matical language was mistaken to mean that experience itself ,

the matrix of all knowledge, was to be spelled in this idiom.

Even where this naturalist ic error was not committed in its

gross form, the analysis was adversely affected by the subtle

influence of physical habits of thought. A revealing instance

is Hu m e s co ntention tha t all the perceptions of the min d fal l

into two classes, impressions and ideas, and that the second

differs from the first by a lesser degree of force and vivacity.

7

Th is basic do gm a of H um e s betrays the influence of a natu ral-

7

Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding sec. .


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T H E C O N C E P T O F H O R IZ O N 9

is ti c m o d e o f th o ug h t i n tw o w a y s . T h e n o t i o n o f i m p re s-

s i o n w i th its p h y s i o l o g i ca l i m p l i ca t i o n s is o b v i o us l y m o de l e d

on the smal lest uni t in contemporary physics , the atom; and

th e a t te m p t to re duce to a m e re d i f fe re n ce o f de gre e th e

q ua l i ta t i v e d i f fe re n ce b e tw e e n i m p re ss i o n o r d i re c t se n se -

perception on the one hand and idea as the resul t of re f lect ion

o n th e o th e r is a sp e c i m e n o f m i sp l a ce d q ua n t i f i ca t i o n . T h e se

are spurious ideal izat ions of authentic experience: instead of

a r t i cu l a t i n g ge n ui n e i m p l i ca t i o n s , th e y i m p o se up o n a c tua l

findings an alien order.

In o ur da y a p o w e rfu l a n t i - n a tura l i s t i c curre n t i n p sy -

ch o l o gy a n d so c i o l o gy o p p o se s a to m i sm . Gestalt th e w h o l e

prior to the pa rt , synopsis such are the catc h-w ord s of a

t re n d o f th o ugh t w h i ch succe ss fu l l y a i ds m o de rn re se a rch i n

t i gh te n i n g it s gr i p o n e x p e r i e n ce . F ro m a p h e n o m e n o l o g i ca l

p o i n t o f v i e w , h o w e v e r , th e h o l i s t i c sy s te m o f re fe re n ce is

no less apt than i ts predecessor to harden into a dogma which

ove rrule s an un biase d inspect ion of the act ua l da ta . T h is is

p a r t i cu l a r l y e v i de n t in so c i o l o gy . T h e fa c t th a t th e i n di v i du a l

necessari ly acts and thinks as a member of a community , of a

fami ly , tr ibe , or nat ion, should not entice theorists into

assuming a col lect ive super-person logica l ly anterior to the

ind ivid ua l . N o par t ca n ext r icat e itse lf ou t of the w ho le in

w h i c h i t b e l o n gs b y a w i th d ra w a l o f it s a ssen t . Bu t th e h um a n

m e m b e r o f a co m m un i ty ca n do so , a n d th e i n di v i dua l ' s

abi l i ty to make such a decis ion is const i tut ive of , and prior to ,

the societa l un i ty . T h is uni ty rests on the loy al ty of i ts m em -

b e rs . T h i s e x a m p l e ca ll s a t te n t i o n to a fun da m e n ta l p ro b l e m .

I t w i l l n o t do to a dv o ca te th e p e rm a n e n t co n ta ct w i th e x p e r i -

ence as the fountainhead of inte l lect ion, nor can we rest con-

te n t w i th th e de m a n d th a t a b stra ct sch e m e s sh o ul d b e co n -

f ined to an exp l icat io n of act ua l ly g iv en horizon s. A s w e go

into the business of the expl icat ion or actual izat ion of the

pote ntia l , w e shal l ha ve to con front an ord er of pr ior i ty

and poster ior i ty . In ea ch s ingle case w e shall ha ve to de cide

which of two structural features condit ions the other , or

w h e th e r th e re i s a th i rd l a y e r o f p h e n o m e n a o n w h i ch b o th

are base d. T h e ideal of true em piric ism is not to be rea ch ed


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I H E L M U T K U H N

by an evasion of system, but rather by a systematizat ion which

sets for th the fundamenta l s t ruc ture of a l l imaginable exper i -

ence as a h ierarchica l order of condi t ioning and condi t ioned

stra ta . Ex plica t ion is essential ly a regress f ro m the va r iab le

and specif ic to the basic an d pe rm an en t . T h e var ie ty of

horizons corresponding to the mult i tude of envisaged objects

m us t finally lead to an u l t im ate ho r iz on of ho r izo ns con-

taining the condit ions of al l actual and potential experience.

The ques t ion presses upon us as to what u l t imate ly makes our

wor ld a wo r ld . A pa r t f rom the t reme ndo us d i ff icu l ties in-

volved in the detai led carrying out of this systematizat ion,

a problem bound up wi th i t s genera l p lan may br ief ly be

raised.

I II . T H E P R O B L E M O F A N U L T I M A T E H O R I Z O N

A cco rding to Husser l , th e usefulness of the n otion of horizo n

consists also in th a t it provid es an exp lan at io n of the o cc a -

s iona l ju dg m en ts and the i r va l id i ty . By th is t e rm we under -

s tan d asser tions m ad e outs ide th e process of explicit reaso ning .

In w orka day l ife we comm only converse w i th each o th er by

means of el l ipt ic phrases , br ief int imations , or even mere

gestures . I t ha rd ly ever occurs th at we express ou r opin ion

in a sequence of arguments , one suppor t ing the o ther , and yet

we un der s tan d ea ch o th er per fec t ly wel l . T h e reason for th is

is that we constant ly l ive and think in reference to a scheme of

an t i c ipa t ions ca ll ed s i tu a t io n ano the r d imens ion of the

ho rizo n enc ircling th e focus of conscious life. I ts chief tra its

may be descr ibed as fol lows, a) Situat ion is the s i tuat ion of

somebody, of an individual , a group of individuals , or , in a

general ized form, the s i tuat ion of a cer tain type of individual ,

or lastly of man as such all these subjects viewed as agents,

act ing , res t ing, assum ing at t i tud es , pu rsui ng ends. (b) T h e

uni ty and pecul iar s t ruc ture of the s i tua t ion does not spr ing

f rom the objec ts but f rom the in tending ac ts and the i r emot ive

and va lua t iona l modes ,

c)

Situat ion is al l -absorpt ive; every-

th in g ma y enter in to i t as a de ter m ina nt . I t is no t a pa r t o r

a sector of the object ive world, but this world viewed from


Authenticated



16/18

T H E C O N C E P T O F H O R I Z O N

I 2 I

a ce r t a i n a n g le t h e a n g le d e t e r m i n e d b y n e e d s , c ra v i n g s ,

h o p e s , a n d f e a rs ,

d)

A l t h o u g h t h e s i tu a t i o n in its p e r m a n e n t

a n d t y p i ca l f e a t u re s i s i n f o rme d b y t h e su b j e c t , i t s sp e c i f i c

sh a p e a n d it s a l t e ra t i o n s d e p e n d o n e x t e rn a l f a c t o rs . T h e

su b j e c t f i n d s t h e s i t u a t i o n t h ro u gh w h i ch h e go e s u n mi st a k a b ly

h i s o w n . A t t h e sa m e t im e h e is a t t h e m e r cy o f t h e s i t u a t i o n .

T h e e x is t en c e o f t hi s a d d i t i o n a l d i m e n s i o n c o m p l i c a te s

m a t t e r s i n a p e c u l i a r w a y . T h e r e a r e n o w t w o r o a d s o p e n t o

t h e p u rsu i t o f o u r go a l , t h e sy s t e ma t i c e x p l i ca t i o n o f h o r i zo n s .

T h e p h i lo so p h e r ' s t a sk , t h e q u e st f o r a n u l t i ma t e f o u n d a t i o n

( t he e l u c i d a t i o n o f t h e h o r i z o n s o f h o r i z o n s ) a p p e a r s to b e

a m b i g u o u s a n d w e a r e c a l l e d u p o n to m a k e a c h o i c e . O n t h e

o n e h a n d , w e sh a l l h a v e to a i m a t a p i c t u r e o f t h e o b j e c t a s

s u c h co m p ri s i n g t h e u n i v e rsa l f e a t u re s o f t h i n gs a t la rge ,

t h e i r s p a t i a l - t e m p o r a l a p p e a r a n c e , t h e i r i n t e r d e p e n d e n c e , t h e

ch a r a ct e r i s t i c i n t e r d i g i t a t i o n o f w h o le s a n d p a rt s , e t c . , in

short , a t a theory of the

noem

i n g e n e r a l . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d ,

we may t race the main l ines of the s i tuat ion, that i s , those

v e st i ge s w h i ch t h e i n t e n d i n g a c t s i mp re ss o n t h e o b j e c t ,

s t a m p i n g i t a s o u r s , a s p a r t o f t h e h u m a n e n v i r o n m e n t .

T h e a c t s r e l e v a n t i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n h a v e a m e r e l y s u b j e c t i v e

a s p e c t w h e n v i e w e d a s t h e e m o t i v e r e a c t i o n t o a n o u t w a r d

st i mu lu s . A t t h e sa m e t i me , h o w e v e r , a s a n a t t i t u d e i n re ga rd

t o t h e o b j e c t , t h e y co n t r i b u t e t o i t s co n st i t u t i o n , d ra w i t i n t o

t h e a mb i t o f o u r l i f e , a n d ma rk i t a s a n e le me n t o f t h e h u ma n

si t u a t i o n . T h e su r f a ce o f t h e g lo b e , t h e n , b e c o m e s o u r

l a n d s c a p e , t h e w a s t e o f s a l t w a t e r a n o c e a n w h i c h w e s a i l;

t h e p l a n t a v e g e t a b l e o r a w e e d , e t c . T h r o u g h a s y s t e m a t i c

a n a ly s i s o f th e se m o d e s o f a ss i mi la t i n g p re se n t a t i o n w e m a y

a rr i v e a t t h e u n i v e rs a l p a t t e r n o f t h e h u m a n s i tu a t i o n . A n d

t h i s p a t t e rn w o u ld h a v e t o co n t a i n t h e b a s i c co n d i t i o n s w h i ch

r e n d e r p o ss ib le a l l i m a g i n a b l e w o r l d - p i c tu r e s w o r l d u n -

d e r s t o o d a s a m e a n i n g f u l w h o l e a n s w e r i n g t o h u m a n n e e d s .

T h e q u e st i o n is w h i ch o f t h e t w o d i re c t i o n s o f a n a ly s i s w i l l

l e a d t o a gro u n d o f e x p e r i e n ce . I s t h e u l t i m a t e f o u n d a t i o n to

b e s o u g h t i n t h e s t r u c t u r e o f a n o b j e c t a s s u c h , o r r a t h e r i n

a p a t t e rn o f b a s i c h u ma n mo d e s o f d e a l i n g w i t h o b j e c t s?

T h e re p ly w i l l b e t h a t n e i t h e r ro a d le a d s t o t h e d e s i re d go a l .


Authenticated



17/18

I

H E L M U T K U H N

A n a l y z i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e t o t a l o b j e c t , w e e n c o u n t e r

p a r t i a l w h o le s s u ch a s o r g an i s m s an d b o d ie s , r eg io n s o f o b j ec t s

such as na tu re o r soc ie ty ; bu t the to ta l i ty i s no t g iven as a

w h o l e . I t s s t a t u s is t h a t of a r e g u l a t i v e i d e a . A s w e a t t e m p t

to r ea l i z e t h i s i d ea , w e in cu r t h e d an g e r o f im p o s in g u p o n th e

totuma p a t t e r n b o r r o w e d f r o m a p a r t . W e b e c o m e n a t u r a l i s t i c

o r b io lo g i s ti c o r p s y ch o lo g i s t i c m e ta p h y s i c i a n s . N o r ca n th e

f o u n d a t i o n b e f o u n d in t h e s c h e m e of o u r h u m a n o r g a n i z a t i o n

a s d e t e r m i n i n g t h e h u m a n s i t u a ti o n . A p a t t e r n t h u s o b -

t a in ed w o u ld ex h ib i t g en u in e w h o len es s an d in a s en s e t h i s

w h o le w o u ld ev en b e a l l -i n c lu s iv e . B u t i t w o u l d l a ck i n d e -

p e n d e n c e . I t s a l l- in c l u si v e n es s w o u l d b e b o u n d u p w i t h

p a r t i c u l a r i t y . M a n w h o b y th e v e r y f ac t o f h i s aw ar en es s o f

t h i n g s c a n n o t h e l p i n c o r p o r a t i n g t h e m i n t o t h e o r b i t o f h i s

l if e a n d c o n f e r r i n g u p o n t h e m a m e a n i n g w h i c h , i n t h e l a s t

r eso r t , i s th e m e a n in g o f h i s ex is tence th i s c r ea to r o f h i s

w or ld is h imse l f on ly a fleeting pa r t i c l e o f th e w or l d . A n d th e

consc iousness o f th i s f ac t is i tse lf a bas ic f e a tu re o f th e h u m a n

s i t u a t i o n . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e tw o h o r i z o n s e n c o m p a s s i n g a n d

g u i d i n g o u r r e s e a r c h d o n o t i n c l u d e o n e a n o t h e r . T h e h u m a n

o r i n s t r u m en ta l m ean in g o f t h in g s v an i s h es i n t h e an a ly s i s o f

th e w o r ld a s

cogitatum.

A n d t r a c i n g b a c k t h e h u m a n s i t u a t i o n

as a p o t en t i a l l y m ean in g f u l w h o le t o i t s s o u r ce i n co n s t i t u t i v e

cogitationes,

w e fin d o u r s e lv e s p u t o f f w i th a t e r m in u s w h ich ,

c o n t i n g e n t a n d f r a g m e n t a r y as i t is, p r o v i d e s n o g r o u n d t o

s t a n d u p o n .

The conc lus ion a t wh ich we thus a r r ive i s , a t the f ace o f i t ,

n e g a t i v e . T h e e n t e r p r i s e of p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l e x p l i c a t i o n ,

h o w e v e r f a r i t m a y b e p u s h e d t o w a r d c o m p l e t i o n , is u n a b l e t o

r e a c h t h e l a y e r of a n u l t i m a t e f o u n d a t i o n . W h e t h e r it s t a r t s

a s o n to lo g y ( t h eo r y o f t h e i n t en d ed o b j ec t i n g en e r a l , Gegen-

standslehre o r as ex i s t en t i a l an a ly s i s ( t h eo r y o f t h e h u m a n

s i tu a t i o n , p h i lo s o p h ica l an th r o p o lo g y ) , i n n e i t h e r c a s e i s i t

ab l e t o j o in b e g in n in g an d en d . B u t t h i s r e s u l t m a y b e g iv en

a p o s i ti v e t h o u g h m e r e l y t e n t a t i v e f o r m . I t m a y b e s a id t h a t

t h e c o n c e p t o r s et of c o n c e p t s p o s t u l a t e d f o r t h e c o n s u m m a t i o n

o f t h e p h i lo s o p h ica l p r o ces s h a s t o s h a r e i n t h e tw o r ea lm s

w h ic h , si n g ly t ak en , f a ll h o p e l e s s ly a p a r t . I t m u s t s h o w th e


Authenticated



18/18


r e l a t i o n s h i p o f o b j e c t a n d h u m a n s i t u a t i o n a s f u n d a m e n t a l f o r

b o t h . I n t r a d i t i o n a l t e l e o l o g i c a l m e t a p h y s i c s t h is l i n k a g e w a s

s u p p l i e d b y t h e i d e a o f a r t ( ), t h a t is , t h e p u r p o s e f u l

m a k i n g o f t h i n g s t h e m a s t e r p a t t e r n o n w h i c h t h e c e n t r a l

m e t a p h y s i c a l n o t i o n s w e r e m o d e l e d . I n H u s s e r l ' s d o c t r i n e

t h e i d e a o f c o n s t i t u t i o n , o f a p o s i t i n g a c t p e r f o r m e d b y t h e

t r a n s c e n d e n t a l e g o , a s s u m e s t h e r o l e o f t h e m e t a p h y s i c a l

c o r n e r s t o n e . U n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h is n o t i o n h e a r r i v e d

a t a r a d i c a l i d e a l i s m n o t n e c e s s a r i l y i m p l i e d i n h i s m e t h o d .

P e r h a p s w e s h a l l r e f u s e t o f o l l o w h i m i n t h is s u p r e m e v e n t u r e .

N e v e r t h e l e s s i t w i l l r e m a i n t r u e t h a t H u s s e r l h a s s h o w n a n e w

a p p r o a c h to t h e m e t a p h y s i c a l p r o b l e m w h i c h it is w e l l w o r t h

o u r w h i l e t r y i n g . tenebris tantist rn clarum extollere lumen

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Kuhn, The Phenomenological Concept of Horizon

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