Kant and Phenomenology

Edmund Husserl is usually credited with developing the concept of phenomenology, but Tom Rockmore argues that its roots can be found in the work of Immanuel Kant. Kant's constructivist theory of knowledge challenged the representational approach to epistemology and paved the way for phenomenology's return to its epistemological origins.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Phenomenology, alongside Marxism, pragmatism, and analytic philosophy, held a dominant position in twentieth-century philosophy, and Edmund Husserl is often credited with being the pioneer in developing this concept. Husserl's ideas exerted a profound influence on numerous influential thinkers, including Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty, who eventually shifted phenomenology's focus away from inquiries into knowledge. However, in his book "Kant and Phenomenology," Tom Rockmore makes a compelling case for a return to the origins of phenomenology in epistemology. By tracing the development of Kant's phenomenological approach back to the second edition of his Critique of Pure Reason, Rockmore demonstrates how Kant's thinking challenged the representational approach to epistemology and thus positioned him as the first great phenomenologist. He further explores this phenomenological line through the works of Kant's idealist successors, Fichte and Hegel, providing a rich and insightful examination of their ideas.

Through its meticulous analysis of the sources and literature examined, Kant and Phenomenology offers a persuasive reimagining of both Kant and phenomenology. It sheds new light on Kant's constructivist theory of knowledge, challenging our traditional understanding of epistemology. At the same time, it provides a fresh perspective on the idealist tradition, illuminating the enduring themes and concepts that have shaped philosophical discourse for centuries. This book is a valuable contribution to the study of philosophy and will be of interest to scholars and students alike.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 227 x 151 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226817859