Discovering Existence with Husserl (SPEP) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Richard A. Cohen (Translator), Michael B. Smith (Translator)
Key Phrases: rigorous science, objectifying intentionality, oriented phenomenology, Logical Investigations, Monsieur Merlan, The Phenomenology of Internal Time-Consciousness (more...)

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Product Description

As an exponent of the phenomenological tradition, Levinas ranks with Heidegger and Sartre; as a disciple of Husserl, he was one of the most independent and original interpreters of phenomenology. This volume collects most of Levina's articles on Husselian phenomenology as well as providing insight into the complexities and difficulties of Levina's thought for the expert.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 198 pages
• Publisher: Northwestern University Press; Translated edition (July 22, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810113600
• ISBN-13: 978-0810113602
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,850,994 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Important Translation, Even If Incomplete, May 15, 2007

By	Sheldon Hanlon (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Discovering Existence with Husserl (SPEP) (Paperback)

Cohen's translation includes many of Levinas' important essays on Husserl, and holds a special place in Levinas scholarship for this reason. The essays in the book range from the 1930s to the 1980s, so it is useful for tracking the development of Levinas' reading of Husserl over the years. More important, the articles in this book show that for Levinas phenomenology isn't something to "escape" but is to be taken seriously. We can see this much in his two articles from 1959, "Reflections on Phenomenological Technique" and "The Ruin of Representation". As a book on Levinas' relation to Husserl, this work is indispensable.

However, this English translation is not without its problems. The full title of the French publication translates as _Discovering Existence with Husserl and Heidegger_ and the book itself contains articles on both Husserl and Heidegger. The translator Richard A. Cohen modifies the book's title and most of the articles on Heidegger are not included in the translation. Why would a translator modify the title of such an important book in Levinas' oeuvre and then omit many of its articles? In his foreword Cohen does not give an answer. It turns out, then, that this translation does not give a full picture of Levinas' relation to phenomenology, for Levinas' reading of Husserl is in many ways influenced by Heidegger.

Although the translation is incomplete, it is still important because it contains articles by Levinas that have not been published elsewhere in English.