Protention in Husserl's phenomenology
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Σουελτζής, Νικόλαος
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Abstract
The present doctoral dissertation intends to examine the particular role and function of protention within the scope of Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology of time. We initially discuss Husserl’s broader theory of time-consciousness and attempt to clarify the methodological steps by means of which one gains phenomenological access to the deepest level of primal awareness of time. We then examine the fundamental dimension of retentional consciousness, i.e., of our primal awareness of the past. By pointing out its essential features as well as the issues raised in its phenomenological analysis, our investigation of protention attains its general orientation. We trace Husserl’s shift from his early texts on time-consciousness up to his mature texts by going through the various time-diagrams he used to depict and describe time-consciousness. Moving on to the analysis of protentional consciousness, we discuss certain fundamental concepts of Husserl’s phenomenology of time, such as “double intentionality,” “protentional modification,” “general” and “particular fulfillment,” “clarifying” and “confirming making-intuitive” (Veranschaulichung). Furthermore, we critically examine different interpretations of protention offered by eminent contemporary Husserl-scholars. Particular emphasis is given in highlighting the “material” or “content” aspect of protention and its fundamental intertwinement with other passive dimensions of our conscious life. The main contribution of the dissertation consists in the paradigmatic analysis of this intertwinement, showing that Husserl’s analyses of protention are not just “formal” or “formalistic” descriptions since they do take into account the richness of our experiential life.
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Protention, Phenomenology, Phenomenology of time, Time-consciousness, Husserl, Affection, Temporality