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Theory & Philosophy

Phenomenology | Kant, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Ahmed | Keyword

Oct 2, 2024
Immanuel Kant, a pivotal figure in epistemology, joins forces with existentialist Martin Heidegger, phenomenologist Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and feminist scholar Sara Ahmed. They explore phenomenology's impact on our perception of space and time, emphasizing that these concepts are human constructs. Ahmed introduces queer perspectives, urging a reevaluation of marginalized experiences. The discussion also highlights the influence of power dynamics on personal identity, drawing connections to historical legacies of racism and colonialism.
24:11

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Kant positions phenomenology as the study of how our sensory experiences shape our understanding of the world around us.
  • Sara Ahmed highlights the necessity of inclusivity in phenomenology by addressing the marginalization of diverse voices and identities in traditional frameworks.

Deep dives

The Foundations of Phenomenology: Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant is a pivotal figure in phenomenology, positioning experience as foundational to human understanding. He critiques previous philosophers like Descartes, proposing that instead of viewing the mind as separate from the world, our comprehension emerges from experiences shaped by our sensory perceptions. Kant argues that phenomena are not neutral entities but rather constructions of our minds, as we can never know things in themselves beyond our subjective interpretations. Consequently, phenomenology becomes the exploration of how our minds process encounters in space and time, revealing the limitations of our understanding of both the external world and ourselves.

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