Phenomenology and the Transcendental

The aim of this volume is to offer an updated account of the transcendental character of phenomenology. The main question concerns the sense and relevance of transcendental philosophy today: What can such philosophy contribute to contemporary inquiries and debates after the many reasoned attacks against its idealistic, aprioristic, absolutist and universalistic tendencies—voiced most vigorously by late 20th century postmodern thinkers—as well as attacks against its apparently circular arguments and suspicious metaphysics launched by many analytic philosophers? Contributors also aim to clarify the relations of transcendental phenomenology to other post-Kantian philosophies, most importantly to pragmatism and Wittgenstein’s philosophical investigations. Finally, the volume offers a set of reflections on the meaning of post-transcendental phenomenology.

Sara Heinamaa is a professor of philosophy in the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, and a senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, History, Culture and Art Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Mirja Hartimo is a docent of theoretical philosophy at the University of Helsinki and University of Tampere, Finland.

Timo Miettinen is a postdoctoral researcher in the Network for European Studies, Department of Political and Economic Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland.