Husserl: A Guide for the Perplexed - (Guides for the Perplexed) by Matheson Russell (Paperback)

About the Book

Addresses directly the major points of difficulty faced by students of Husserl and leads them through the maze of complex ideas and language. In identifying and working through common sources of confusion arising from Husserl's philosophy, this book builds up a comprehensive overview of his thought and, more broadly, of phenomenology itself.

Book Synopsis

Continuum's Guides for the Perplexed are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to fathom, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material. Edmund Husserl's work is a cornerstone of Continental philosophy and the phenomenological tradition. Husserl stands as a key influence on such major philosophers as Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty and Sartre, and is required reading for anyone studying phenomenology and European philosophy of the last 100 years. However, the complex ideas central to his work, and the rather convoluted language in which they are expressed, mean that arriving at a full and clear understanding of Husserlian phenomenology is no small undertaking. Husserl: A Guide for the Perplexed addresses directly those major points of difficulty faced by students of Husserl and leads them expertly through the maze of complex ideas and language. In identifying and working through common sources of confusion arising from Husserl's philosophy, the book builds up a comprehensive and authoritative overview of his thought and, more broadly, of phenomenology itself. The text covers the central tenets of phenomenology, Husserl's work on consciousness, and key philosophical topics in Husserl, including psychologism, intersubjectivity, the lifeworld and the crisis of the sciences.

Review Quotes

'Husserl: A Guide for the Perplexed is a clear, concise and accessible introduction of Husserl's philosophy for academics and any philosophy student who wants to further his/her ideas about Husserl' philosophy...Matheson Russell provides a thorough analysis of main topics of Husserl's philosophy while focusing each discussion on one of his major works.' Kamuran Godelek PhD, Metapsychology Online Reviews

About the Author

Matheson Russell is Research Associate at the University of New South Wales, Australia.