“Phenomenology and Naturalism: Attitude and Objectivity”
Dermot MoranUniversity College Dublin
Edmund Husserl was a philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the philosophical school of phenomenology. Professor Moran will argue that Husserl was correct to see naturalism as the dominant tendency of twentieth-century science and philosophy. Naturalism can be understood in many different senses, but it is typically defined by its commitment to science as the arbiter of what is objective. Husserl took naturalism to be self-refuting. Moran will discuss Husserl’s arguments, and in particular, the manner in which Husserl redefines ‘objectivity’ within his transcendental idealism, which is his alternative to naturalism.
Moran’s lecture will be followed by commentary from Professors Jean-Luc Marion (University of Paris/Sorbonne, University of Chicago) and Christopher Frey (University of Chicago).
Dermot Moran is Professor of Philosophy (Metaphysics and Logic) at University College Dublin and is an elected Member of the Royal Irish Academy. Moran has published widely on medieval philosophy and contemporary European philosophy, especially phenomenology. He is author of The Philosophy of John Scottus Eriugena, Introduction to Phenomenology, and Edmund Husserl: Founder of Phenomenology.
