Mensch - Hiddenness and Alterity

7/21/2019 Mensch - Hiddenness and Alterity

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HIDDENNESSANDALTERITY:

A PHENOMENOLOGYOFTHENON-MANIFEST

James Richard Mensch


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yuch'" peivrata ijw;n oujk a]n ejxeuvpoio, pa'san ejpiporeuovmeno"

ojdovn: ou{tw baqu;n lovon e!cei. Heraci!"s# Fr. $%.

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&'n!en!s:

In!r'd"c!i'n (

&ha)!er I: Tem)'rai*a!i'n as !he Trace '+ !he S",ec! (

&ha)!er II: The A!eri!/ '+ Time 00

&ha)!er III: L'1ic and A!eri!/ %2

&ha)!er I3: Ima1ina!i'n and O!hers 45

&ha)!er 3: Gi6enness and A!eri!/ 54

&ha)!er 3I: Se+h''d and P'i!ics %

&ha)!er 3II: Shame and G"i! (70

&ha)!er 3III:Benito Cerino: Fre"d and !he 8rea9d'n '+ P'i!ics ((;

&ha)!er I


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

S'me '+ !he cha)!ers a))earin1 in !his 6'"me are re'r9ed 6ersi'ns '+ )re6i'"s/ )",ished

ar!ices. Ac9n'ed1men! is made !' !he +''in1 )",ishin1 h'"ses# )eri'dicas and

)ers'ns +'r !heir 9ind )ermissi'n !' re)",ish a 'r )ar! '+ !he +''in1 ar!ices:

@Tem)'rai*a!i'n as !he Trace '+ !he S",ec!#inKant und die Berliner Aufklrung, Akten desIX. Internationalen Kant-Kongresses# 8erin: >a!er de Gr"/!er# 277(B @Rea and IdeaDe!ermina!i'n in H"sserCsLogical Investigations# inHusserls Logical InvestigationsReconsidered# ed. Denis Fise!!e# D'rdrech!: "er Press# 2770B @A!eri!/ and Gi6enness#Idealistic tudies2770B @Benito Cereno: Fre"d and !he 8rea9d'n '+ !he &'ec!i6e Se+#!"#osiu", $ournal of t%e Canadian ociet! for Her"eneutics and &ost"odern '%oug%t2770# @Se+h''d and P'i!ics# !"#osiu", $ournal of t%e Canadian ociet! forHer"eneutics and &ost"odern '%oug%t# 4:( 2772B @Li!era!"re and E6i in(t%ics andLiterature# ed. D'r'!hee Gehard# 8erin: Gada and >ich# 2772B @Resc"e and !he Face !'Face: E!hics and !he H''ca"s! in)e* (uro#e at t%e Crossroads II# ed. . 8ei!!er# NeY'r9: Pe!er Lan1 P",ishers# 277(# @A,raham and Isaac: A ="es!i'n '+ The'dic/# tudies in&ractical &%iloso#%!# H"mani!ies Press# 2770B and @>ha! Sh'"d >e Pra/ F'r? '%e&%eno"enolog! of &ra!er,ed. 8r"ce 8ens'n# F'rdham ni6ersi!/ Press# 2770. I ish !'e)ress m/ 1ra!i!"de !' Dr. M'rdecai Padie# !he Direc!'r# De)ar!men! +'r !he Ri1h!e'"s# +'r)ermissi'n !' ="'!e +r'm !he ma!eria a! !he Archi6es a! Yad 3ashem in Jer"saem. >i!h'"!

Dr. PadieCs assis!ance and enc'"ra1emen!# &ha)!er < c'"d n'! ha6e ,een ri!!en. I as'

ish !' !han9 !he direc!'r '+ !he H"sser Archi6es in L'"6ain# Pr'+ess'r R"d')h 8erne!# +'re!endin1 me !he h's)i!ai!/ '+ !he Archi6es and 1ran!in1 me )ermissi'n !' ="'!e +r'm !he

)ac%lass. Fina/# 1ra!e+" ac9n'ed1men! is d"e !' !he S'cia Sciences and H"mani!iesResearch &'"nci '+ &anada +'r a 1ran! s"))'r!in1 !he research !ha! made !his 6'"me)'ssi,e.

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n'! c'm)e!e/ !rans)aren! !' '"rse6es. >e reai*e !ha! e '+!en ac! +r'm m'!i6es !ha! are

',sc"re !' '"rse6es. O"r )ri6ie1ed access !' '"r mem'ries and in!en!i'ns is# e admi!# n'!

s"ch !ha! e can i!h c'n+idence c'se !he 1a) ,e!een h' e a))ear !' '"rse6es and !he

reai!/ "nder/in1 !his. S"ch an admissi'n )'in!s !' !he +ac! !ha! e d' 1ras) '"rse6es as n'!

c'm)e!e/ 1ras)a,e. This indica!es !ha! !he hidden as)ec! '+ '"rse6es d'es mani+es! i!se+

as s"ch. 8"!# h' d'es i! d' !his? This is !he +irs! ="es!i'n !ha! anima!es !his ,''9. The

sec'nd is: ha! d'es !his se+-hiddenness re6ea a,'"! '"r se+h''d? Th"s# I sha ,e ''9in1

a! n'! "s! !he a/s e a))rehend '"r se+-c'nceamen!# ,"! as' a! !he na!"re '+ !he se+ !ha!

is se+-c'nceain1. The 9e/ asser!i'n here is !ha! t%e %idden is t%e ot%er. Se+-hiddenness

!h"s res"!s +r'm !he '!herCs inc"si'n i!hin !he se+. I! is ,/ 6ir!"e '+ !he '!her !ha! e

ha6e !he inner a!eri!/ !ha! charac!eri*es '"r se+h''d. The in="ir/ in!' '"r hiddenness i

in+'rm a c'rres)'ndin1 in="ir/ in!' !his a!eri!/.

Types of Hiddenness

A more concrete sense of this examination of hiddenness and alterity can be gained

by considering the questions that arise when we consider the notion of hiddenness. Its

elementary sense can be expressed in terms of the objects about us. Their facing side appears

to us and their backside is hidden. Of course, we can either turn them about or change our

own position to view their hidden sides. Doing so, however, results in the formerly visible

side now being hidden. This is part of the sense of our relation to three dimensional objects.

We always view them from some given position, which results in one side appearing and the

other being hidden. Here, hiddenness is inherent in appearing. What is hidden is correlated

to what appears and can itself appear through a change in orientation. It manifests its non-

appearing in the sense of appearing itself. What appears conceals what does not appear; it

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also points to it as what can appear. This sense of the hidden as the potentially apparent is

present even with regard to objects that, practically speaking, cannot appear. A ring lost in a

lake is practically irretrievable. Yet we can still picture to ourselves what it would look like

were we to dive in and happen upon it. We can even try to imagine how objects might

appear that are absolutely impossible to viewfor example, the interior of the sun.

A m're c'm)e sense '+ hiddenness 'cc"rs hen e s)ea9 '+ !he men!a i+e '+

'!hers. T' ac!"a/ 1ras) !his# I '"d ha6e !' a))rehend h' !he 'rd a))eared !' an'!her

)ers'n. The e)eriences# mem'ries and an!ici)a!i'ns !ha! s!r"c!"re s"ch a))earin1 '"d

as' ha6e !' ,e )resen! !' meB s' '"d !he em'!i'na i+e# !he ha,i!s '+ mind and e6er/!hin1

ese !ha! 1'es in!' a )ers'nCs se+-)resence. The/ '"d ha6e !' ,e ')en !' m/ immedia!e

a))rehensi'n. Needess !' sa/# s"ch an idea is im)'ssi,e. This is n'! a )rac!ica

im)'ssi,ii!/. The )r',em is n'! !ha! '+ a!!ainin1 s'me ')!ima s)a!ia )'si!i'n +r'm hich

!' 6ie a hidden side 'r e6en '+ ima1inin1 a 6ie)'in! !ha!# )rac!ica/ s)ea9in1# is

im)'ssi,e !' a!!ain. Ra!her# in !his case# !' ',!ain !he 1'a is !' 'se i!. The '!herCs men!a

i+e# i+ made +"/ )resen! !' me# '"d mer1e i!h m/ 'n. In reachin1 !he 1'a# I '"d

n'! ',!ain 9n'ed1e '+ !he '!her# ,"! ra!her se+-9n'ed1e. Th"s# !he '!herCs men!a i+e 'r

c'nsci'"sness is essen!ia/ hidden +r'm me. I! mani+es!s an a!eri!/ !ha! cann'! ,e

'6erc'me. Gi6en !his# h/ d' I ass"me i!? >ha! is !he e6idence I ha6e +'r !his hidden

ream? In '!her 'rds# h' d'es !he dis!inc!i'n ,e!een !he a))earin1 and !he hiddens%o*

itselfin !his case? The ="es!i'n# )hen'men''1ica/ s)ea9in1# is: h' d'es !he '!her sh'

me !ha! !here is s'me!hin1 !here !ha! I cann'! a))rehend? H' d'es !he )ers'n 1i6e himse+

as essen!ia/ n'! 1i6en?

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A rea!ed sense '+ !he hidden in6'6es !he '!herCs r'e in )'si!in1 !he rea# ',ec!i6e

'rd. I+ e as9 ha! charac!eri*es !he reai!/ '+ !he rea 'rd# e +ind !ha! e cann'!

)'in! !' an/ '+ i!s sensi,e +ea!"res. >e cann'! dis!in1"ish !he rea +r'm !he ima1inar/ in

!erms '+ s'me c''r# sha)e# e!c. E6en 6i6idness is n'! a s"re cri!eri'n# since dreams# as 'n1

as !he/ as!# '+!en ha6e a s")eri'r 6i6idness !' a9in1 i+e.( "an!i!a!i6e ana/sis is as' n'

he). As an! )'in!ed '"!# 'ne h"ndred ima1inar/ d'ars ha6e !he same n"m,er '+ )ennies

as 'ne h"ndred rea 'nes. O+ c'"rse# /'" cann'! s)end !he ima1inar/ d'ars. This is

,eca"se hie !he/ ma/ ,e !here +'r /'"# !he/ are n'! !here +'r !he )ers'n h' has s'me!hin1

!' se. The m'ne/ !ha! /'" can s)end m"s! ,e )resen! !' /'" ,'!h. This im)ies !ha!

eis!ence# ra!her !han indica!in1 s'me +ea!"re '+ !he ',ec!# ac!"a/ )'in!s !' in!ers",ec!i6e

a1reemen!. >ha! is rea is ha! is )resen! !' ,'!h se+ and '!hers.2 Th"s# hen e 'nder

he!her ha! e are seein1 'r hearin1 is ima1inar/ 'r rea# e 1enera/ res'6e !his ,/

as9in1 '!hers i+ !he/ as' share '"r e)eriences. In d'in1 s'# e ass"me !ha! !heir men!a i+e

is# in !his ins!ance# simiar !' '"r 'n. S"ch i+e# h'e6er# is hidden +r'm "s. >e !h"s )'si!

ha! cann'! a))ear in !he sense '+ ,ein1 s'me sensi,e +ea!"re 'n !he ,asis '+ ha!# i!se+#

cann'! a))ear. Th"s# !he hiddenness '+ !he reai!/ '+ !he 'rd is c'rrea!ed !' !he

hiddenness '+ '"r '!hers. I! is as i!!e )ercei6a,e as !heir men!a i+e. >ha! e ha6e here is

a sense '+ !he hidden as in!ers",ec!i6e/ c'ns!i!"!ed ,/ '"r '!hers. The ="es!i'ns !ha! i

'cc")/ "s in !his re1ard c'ncern !he mani+es!a!i'n '+ !his sense '+ hiddenness. H' d'es !he

r'e '+ '!hers in '"r )'si!in1 reai!/ ehi,i! i!se+? H' d'es i! a++ec! !he 1i6enness and

hiddenness '+ !he rea 'rd? >ha! d'es i! im)/ i!h re1ard !' !he a/s e a))rehend !he

'rd and i!s )'ssi,ii!ies? A! iss"e here is !he a!eri!/ '+ !he 'rd i!se+!ha! is# !he a/s

in hich i! mani+es!s i!se+ as '!her !han ha! e can )redic! 'r ass"me.

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Self-hiddenness

>hen e ''9 a! !he r'e )a/ed ,/ '!hers in '"r i6es# e +ind i! !' ,e a-)er6asi6e.

Each '+ "s has ,een ,'rn '+ '!hers. Each has ini!ia/ de)ended 'n care1i6ers +'r am's! a

'+ i+eCs needs. As e 1r'# e 1ain +r'm !hem '"r ini!ia i+e-)r'ec!s. The/ !each "s h'

!' c'n!r' '"r ,'es# ea! a! !he !a,e# a9 ")ri1h!# e!c. As !he/ d' s'# !he/ !a9 !' "s. The/

1i6e "s a c'ns!an! 6er,a c'mmen!ar/ 'n !he ac!i6i!ies in ="es!i'n. Th"s# +r'm !hem e earn

n'! "s! h' !' ma9e '"r a/ in !he 'rd# ,"! as' h' !' s)ea9 a,'"! !his# i.e.#

c'mm"nica!e !' '!hers !he "nders!andin1 !ha! e ha6e 1ained. This )r'cess c'n!in"es

!hr'"1h'"! chidh''d and e!ends +ar in!' a!er i+e as e earn +r'm '!hers ne )r'ec!s and

ne s9is. As e in!ernai*e !hese )r'ec!s and !he an1"a1e acc'm)an/in1 !hem# '"r '!hers

are as' in!ernai*ed. The aareness '+ !heir )resence can ,e as in!rica!e as !r/in1 !' +i1"re

'"! h' !he/ ma/ res)'nd !' ha! e d' 'r sa/ and ha! '"r res)'nse !' !his sh'"d ,e. I!

can as' ,e as sim)e as !he cha!!er in '"r heads as e !r/ !' +a asee) a! ni1h!. >h' s)ea9s

and h' is!ens in !he in!eri'r m'n''1"es !ha! e carr/ 'n i!h '"rse6es? The 6er/ s)i!

,e!een s)ea9er and a"di!'r )'in!s !' !he )resence '+ '"r '!hers. >e e)erience !heir a!eri!/

as a se+-a!eri!/ !ha! is as' a se+-dis!ancin1. This a!eri!/ is e)erienced as an a,ii!/ !' !a9e

") s!and)'in!s dis!inc! +r'm '"r 'n and ="es!i'n '"rse6es +r'm a!erna!e )ers)ec!i6es.

T' )'in!s +' +r'm !hese re+ec!i'ns. 8'!h ha6e a ,earin1 'n !he asser!i'n !ha! !he

hidden is !he '!her. The +irs! is !ha! !' !he )'in! !ha! m/ men!a i+e is in!ers",ec!i6e/

de!ermined# i! as' has a hidden c'm)'nen!. This +''s +r'm !he hiddenness '+ !he '!hers

h' de!ermine me. Th"s# !' !he de1ree !ha! !he '!her is in me as ot%er!han me# !ha! is# as

+e!ondha! I can 1ras) and 9n'# !he '!her re)resen!s ha! is c'nceaed +r'm me. T' !he

e!en! !ha! I in!ernai*e !his '!her# I e)erience a cer!ain se+-c'nceamen!. There are as)ec!s

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'+ m/se+ !ha! s"r)rise me# !ha! are n'! a))aren! !' me. I ac! in cer!ain a/s# ,"! !he reas'ns

+'r !his are n'! cear !' me. The sec'nd )'in! is !ha! s"ch as)ec!s are 1rad"a/ ,"i! "). I

ac="ired !hem as I ac="ired m/ c"!"rei.e.# earned +r'm '!hers h' !' ma9e m/ a/ in

!he 'rd. D'in1 s'# I )ic9ed ") )a!!erns '+ ,eha6i'ra/s '+ !hin9in1 and ac!in1h'se

m'!i6es ma/ ,e as hidden !' me as !he men!a i+e '+ !he care1i6ers +r'm h'm I earned

!hem. Th"s# +r'm !hem I 1rad"a/ ac="ired !he c"!"ra/ re="ired +'rms '+ re)ressi'n

re1ardin1 !hin1s i9e se# race# e!c. I )ic9ed ") !heir )re"dices and a!!i!"des# i!h'"!

necessari/ ac="irin1 !he reas'ns +'r s"ch. The se+-c'nceamen! ,r'"1h! a,'"! ,/ '!hers

as' in+'rms m/ ,ein1 in !he 'rd# m/ @reai!/ as a )ers'n !here +'r '!hers. The '!hers

h' )'si!i'n me as a )",ic )ers'n are as hidden as !h'se !ha! +'rmed me. Th"s# I cann'!

rea/ 9n' !he m'!i6es !ha! ma/ ,e a! 'r9 in !heir assi1nin1 me s'me s)eci+ic )",ic

)ers'na. The ="es!i'n here is h' d'es !his se+-hiddenness a))ear !' "s? H'# +'r

eam)e# d'es '"r ac9 '+ se+-!rans)arenc/ mani+es! i!se+ in '"r rea!i'ns i!h '!hers? H'#

+'r eam)e# d' '"r ac!i'ns sh' !hemse6es as s/m)!'ms '+ !he re)ressi'ns !ha! e ha6e

in!ernai*ed. These are !he ="es!i'ns !ha! e i e)'re !hr'"1h a readin1 '+ Me6ieCs

Benito Cerino.

The Constitution of Hiddenness

The ass"m)!i'n ,ehind !hese re+ec!i'ns has ,een !ha! !he men!a i+e '+ '!hers is

hidden +r'm "s. Fr'm !his# I ha6e ar1"ed !ha! !he men!a i+e '+ each '+ "s# !' !he de1ree !ha!

i! is in!ers",ec!i6e/ c'ns!i!"!ed# is n'! se+-!rans)aren!. 8eca"se !h'se h' c'ns!i!"!ed i!

are hidden# !he men!a i+e !he/ c'ns!i!"!e has an in!eri'r hiddenness. &an e re6erse !his

and sa/ !ha! !here is an eemen! '+ in!ers",ec!i6e c'ns!i!"!i'n in6'6ed in !he hiddenness '+

'!hers +r'm "s? &er!ain/# ins'+ar as !heir men!a i6es are in!ers",ec!i6e/ c'ns!i!"!ed# !he/

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!'' m"s! ha6e a cer!ain ac9 '+ se+-!rans)arenc/. The/ '"d !h"s ha6e a meas"re '+

hiddenness ,ased 'n !heir ac9 '+ se+-9n'ed1e. N'! 9n'in1 !hemse6es# !he/ '"d n'!

,e a,e !' +"/ re6ea !hemse6es !' "s. M/ ="es!i'n a,'"! !he in!ers",ec!i6e c'ns!i!"!i'n '+

!heir hiddenness has# h'e6er# a dee)er e6e. T' "nc'6er i!# I ha6e !' as9: h' d' I 9n'

!ha! !he '!her has a hidden i+e? &er!ain/# hiddenness is im)ied hen I sa/ !ha! I d' n'!

9n' ha! !he '!her is !hin9in1. Thin9in1# h'e6er# de)ends 'n an1"a1e# hich is

in!ers",ec!i6e/ c'ns!i!"!ed. Gi6en !his# h/ cann'! !he '!her sim)/ !e me ha! he is

!hin9in1? >e d'# in +ac!# in+'rm '!hers '+ '"r men!a i6es !hr'"1h an1"a1e. Ye!# hen !he

'!her d'es !his# !here is s!i a hiddennessB !here is s!i an a!eri!/ !ha! cann'! ,e '6erc'me. I!

sh's i!se+ in !he +ac! !ha! I can d'",! !he '!herCs 'rds. This is ,eca"se !' )'ssess a

an1"a1e is !' ,e a,e !' dissem,e. I! is !' ,e a,e not!' d' ha! 'neCs 'rds )r'mise. This

im)ies !ha! !he @sa/in1 !ha! res"!s in !he @said eceeds !his. I! can !a9e ,ac9 !he saidB i!

can '6er!"rn i!.

The ="es!i'n here is he!her !his eceedin1 is# i!se+# in!ers",ec!i6e/ c'ns!i!"!ed. Is

i! !he res"! '+ !h'se '!hers h' !hin9 and ac! di++eren!/? There are reas'ns !' ,eie6e !ha!

!his is !he case. The m's! c'm)ein1 c'mes +r'm !he +ac! !ha! each '+ "s a))r')ria!es !he

)'ssi,ii!ies '+ '!hers. This ha))ens n'! "s! hen e earn +r'm '"r care1i6ers# chidh''d

c'm)ani'ns and sch''ma!es di++eren! a/s '+ ,ein1 and ,eha6in1. As ad"!s# ha!e6er e

see '"r '!hers d' !ends !' ,e re1arded he!her +a6'ra,/ 'r "n+a6'ra,/ as a h"man

ca)aci!/. As s"ch# e re1ard i! as 'ne '+ '"r 'n )'ssi,ii!ies. E6en !h'"1h e mi1h! ne6er

ch''se !' ac!"ai*e i!# i! s!i +'rms )ar! '+ ha! e c'"d ,e ca)a,e '+. Gi6en !his# !he

)'ssi,ii!ies ')en !' "s are m're !han can ,e )redic!ed +r'm ha! e ha6e d'ne 'r said. J"s!

as '"r an1"a1e aa/s a++'rds "s )'ssi,ii!ies '+ e)ressin1 '"rse6es hich eceed ha! e

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ha6e )re6i'"s/ e)ressed# s' as' !he )'ssi,ii!ies '+ ,ein1 and ,eha6i'r a6aia,e !' "s

eceed !h'se '+ '"r his!'r/. This ina,ii!/ !' ehi,i! a !ha! e are ca)a,e '+i.e.# !'

red"ce !he sa/in1 !' !he saidres"!s in !he necessar/ c'nceamen! '+ each se+ !' i!s '!hers.

The res"!# !hen# is a hiddenness !ha! cann'! ,e '6erc'me ,/ sinceri!/ 'r 1''di since i!

c'ncerns '"r ina,ii!/ as +ini!e ,ein1s !' d' a 'r sa/ a !ha!# !han9s !' '"r '!hers# +'rms !he

ran1e '+ '"r )'ssi,ii!ies.0 Here '!hers are @in "s in a sense !ha! 1'es ,e/'nd '"r ,ein1 a,e

!' se)ara!e '"rse6es +r'm '"rse6es and !a9e ") di++eren! )ers)ec!i6es. The/ are )resen! in

'"r se+-eceedin1 and c'nse="en! hiddenness !' !he 6er/ '!hers h' c'ec!i6e/ c'ns!i!"!e

s"ch se+-eceedin1. Par! '+ '"r endea6'r i ,e !' +"r!her de+ine and e)'re !he

c'nse="ences '+ !he hiddenness !ha! s!ems +r'm !his ecessi6e charac!er '+ '"r se+h''d.

Hiddenness and Morality

These c'nse="ences c'ncern +irs! '+ a '"r m'ra rea!i'ns !' !he '!her. T' ha6e a

m'ra rea!i'n# I m"s! rec'1ni*e !ha! !he '!her is a )ers'n and n'!# sa/# a !hin1. Simiari!/

he)s me !' d' !his. The '!her is simiar !' me and is rec'1ni*ed as s"ch. N'! 'n/ d'es she

''9 i9e me# in !he 1enera sense '+ ,ein1 a mem,er '+ m/ s)eciesB she as' ac!s !he a/ I

'"d in simiar circ"ms!ances. Th"s# I 1ran! her !he )ers'nh''d !ha! I ascri,e !' m/se+.

There is# h'e6er# a imi! !' !his. The '!her h' ''9ed "s! i9e me and h'se e6er/ m'6e

c'"d ,e )redic!ed as ha! I '"d d' in !he same si!"a!i'n# '"d n'! ,e an '!her# ,"! '"d

ra!her ,e m/se+ red")ica!ed. Th"s# !he '!her# as '!her# m"s! eceed me. She m"s! ha6e !he

se+-eceedin1 and c'nse="en! hiddenness de+ined a,'6e. Gi6en !his# h' d' I rec'1ni*e

her? H' d' I in!end !he '!her in her se+-eceedin1?

The anser e i e)'re in6'6es !he in!endin1 !ha! ass"mes i!s 'n s"r)assin1.

In in!endin1 !' 1ras) a !hin1# '"r aim is !' "nders!and each '+ i!s +ea!"res. The idea is an

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"nders!andin1 !ha! ea6es n'!hin1 '"!. 8/ c'n!ras!# !' in!end a )ers'n is !' in!end an ',ec!

h'se 1i6enness eceeds ha! e in!end. This can ,e )"! in !erms '+ !he +ac! !ha! !' in!end

is !' in!er)re!. >ha! e in!end !' see is se! ,/ '"r ca!e1'ries# ,/ '"r in!er)re!a!i'n '+ !he

'rd. Th"s# in!endin1 !' see s'me ',ec!# e in!er)re! ha! e see acc'rdin1/. This

in!er)re!a!i'n sha)es '"r e)ec!a!i'ns. I+# +'r eam)e# I ,eie6e I am seein1 a ca! cr'"chin1

in !he shad's "nder a ,"sh# !hen as I m'6e !' 1e! a c'ser ''9# I e)ec! !ha! 'ne shad'

i !"rn '"! !' ,e i!s !ai# an'!her i!s head# e!c. As 'n1 as !hese e)ec!a!i'ns are c'n+irmed#

I c'n!in"e !' main!ain m/ )erce)!"a !hesism/ "d1men! !ha! I am# indeed# seein1 a ca!.

&'ser ins)ec!i'n i# I ass"me# '++er me m're de!ai# m're in!"i!i6e c'n+irma!i'n '+ m/

in!en!i'n. >hen i! d'es n'!# I sim)/ chan1e m/ !hesis. I sa/# +'r eam)e# ha! I am seein1

is n'! a ca! ,"! !he +ic9erin1 )a/ '+ i1h! and shad' "nder !he ,"sh. T' in!end a )ers'n is#

h'e6er# !' e)ec! !ha! not all of "! e#ectations *ill +e confir"ed. The in!"i!i6e

c'n+irma!i'n '+ m/ in!en!i'n m"s!# in +ac!# ,e )r'6ided ,/ a 1i6enness !ha! eceeds m/

in!er)re!a!i'n. The ecess c'nsis!s '+ !he ot%ers inter#retation'+ !he si!"a!i'n e share.

This is aa/s s'meha! di++eren! +r'm m/ 'n. G"ided ,/ i!# !he '!her aa/s ,eha6es

di++eren!/ !han I '"d. There is a mar1in '+ di++erence ,e!een "s ,ased 'n !he di++erence

'+ '"r a))rehensi'ns. Th"s# ins'+ar as I in!end !he '!herCs ecessi6e 1i6enness# I m"s! a! a

cer!ain )'in! s"s)end m/ in!er)re!a!i'n !i !he '!her 1i6es !he ead. Her eceedin1 me is her

in!er)re!a!i'n# !he 6er/ in!er)re!a!i'n !ha!# in m'!i6a!in1 her ,eha6i'r# mee!s mine and cas

'n me !' res)'nd. Th"s# m/ in!endin1 !he '!her in6'6es a res)'ndin1 !' her and her

in!er)re!a!i'n. I! is a +'rm '+ res)'nsi,ii!/ h'se rea!i'n !' m'rai!/ i ,e a c'ns!an!

!heme in ha! +''s.

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Pe')e d' n'! ha6e !' en1a1e in s"ch res)'nsi,ii!/. The/ can# in +ac!# sh"! '++ !he

rec'1ni!i'n '+ !he '!her h' ai!s !i !he '!her 1i6es !he ead. >hen !he/ d'# !he/ 1enera/

en1a1e in s!ere'!/)in1. The/ red"ce !he '!her !' a read/ se! '+ ca!e1'ries and a' n'

c'n!rar/ e6idence !' "ndermine !hese. S!ere'!/)in1# !hen# is !he '))'si!e '+ !he rec'1ni!i'n

c'n+irmed ,/ !he '!herCs ecessi6e 1i6enness. In den/in1 !ha! !he '!her can di++er +r'm i!s

c'nce)!i'ns# i! red"ces !he '!her !' an ',ec! !ha! has n' hiddenness. In !he e!reme case# !he

'!her ,ec'mes a mere !hin1 and# hence# can ,e !rea!ed as s"ch. The disas!r'"s c'nse="ences

'+ s"ch s!ere'!/)in1 ere e6iden! d"rin1 !he h''ca"s!. The/ are an im)'r!an! reas'n !ha! s'

+e )e')e aided !he Jes 'n !he r"n. In !he P'ish s!ere'!/)e# +'r eam)e# !he Je as

c'nsidered !' ha6e e)'i!ed P'and +'r /ears. D"rin1 !he ar# i! as ass"med !ha! he 'r she

as h'ardin1 1'd. In !he 9raine# !he Je as re1arded as a 8'she6i9 and# hence# as

res)'nsi,e +'r !he S!ainis! !err'r. In ,'!h cases# Jes ere seen as deser6in1 !heir +a!e.

I+ !he rec'1ni!i'n '+ !he '!her as '!her is '"r en!rance in!' m'rai!/# s"ch s!ere'!/)in1

is !he '))'si!e. Re1ardin1 i!# e c'n+r'n! !he )ec"iar 1i6enness '+ e6i. In a cer!ain sense

!his is a n'n1i6enness. 8eca"se s!ere'!/)in1 )re6en!ed !he rec'1ni!i'n '+ !he h"mani!/ '+

!he Jes# !he e6i d'ne !' !hem as as' n'! rec'1ni*ed. This n'nrec'1ni!i'n as n'! tout

court# ,"! ra!her )ar! '+ a )r'cess. Th"s# in German/# !he s!ere'!/)in1 '+ !he Jes as

acc'm)ished in !he (;07Cs !hr'"1h an increasin1/ 6ir"en! )r')a1anda. Each )hase '+ !he

cam)ai1n increased !heir is'a!i'n. S"ch is'a!i'n# in imi!in1 an/ e6idence !' !he c'n!rar/#

)ermi!!ed +"r!her s!ere'!/)in1. This d'nard s)ira as as' 'ne '+ an increasin1

c'nceamen!. Th"s# each ac!i'n a1ains! !he Jes red"ced !he a,ii!/ '+ !heir h"mani!/ !'

sh' i!se+ and# !h"s# increased !heir e)'s"re as mere @!hin1s !' a 6i'ence h'se

inh"mani!/ as ess and ess rec'1ni*ed.

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The res"!in1 se+-c'nceamen! '+ e6i 1i6es "s /e! an'!her sense '+ hiddenness. The

red"c!i'n '+ !he '!her !' an ',ec! ha6in1 n' hiddenness is a c'nceamen! '+ hiddenness.

>ha! e ha6e here is a hiddenness of %iddenness. This c'nceamen! '+ hiddenness can 'cc"r

!hr'"1h !he "nc'nsci'"s racia s!ere'!/)in1 !ha! e i e)'re in '"r readin1 '+ Benito

Cerino. I! can ,e !he ',ec! '+ an e)ici! 1'6ernmen! )'ic/ as i! as in Na*i German/. I!

can as' !a9e !he +'rm '+ !he 6i'ence !ha! "ses m"!ia!i'n as an ins!r"men! '+ ar. Here

ha! is c'nceaed is n'! "s! !he hiddenness !ha! arises +r'm '"r a))r')ria!in1 !he

)'ssi,ii!ies '+ '!hersi.e.# !he hiddenness !ha! s)rin1s +r'm !he eceedin1 ="ai!/ '+ '"r

se+h''d. In m"!ia!in1 !he ,'d/# !he a!!em)! is made !' ',i!era!e !his hiddenness ,/ s!ri9in1

a! i!s r''!. The 1'a '+ s"ch ac!i'n is a))aren! in !he )h'!'1ra)hs '+ !he m"!ia!ed 6ic!ims '+

!he recen! c'n+ic!s in A+rica. Men !r/in1 !' 1e! a,'"! i!h'"! a +''! and a hand# 'men

!r/in1 !' care +'r in+an!s i!h s!"m)s ins!ead '+ hands ,ear i!ness !' !he aim '+ s"ch ac!s:

!ha! '+ red"cin1 !he 6ic!imCs ,'d/ !' a n'n+"nc!i'nin1 ',ec!. T' !he )'in! !ha! i! s"cceeds# i!

c"!s '++ !he indi6id"a +r'm !he )'ssi,ii!ies '+ i!s '!hers. I! )re6en!s )e')e +r'm enac!in1

!hem ,/ "nderc"!!in1 !heir ,'di/ @I can.

The role of the body in appropriating the possibilities of others is so obvious as to

hardly need comment. Everything from learning to eat at the table to learning how to write

presupposes a functioning body. The same holds for our initial learning of our language. I

acquired, for example, the meaning of such words as knife and fork when I learned to eat

at the table. They were not taught to me in isolation, but rather as part of a pattern of bodily

behavior, one which disclosed what knives and forks were for. Similarly, in appropriating

the projects of others I learned, for example, that paper can be used as a surface to draw and

write on or as material to start a fire or to make a paper airplane, and so on. Doing so, I

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gained my sense of what was meant by the word, paper. Such examples point to the fact

that the disclosure of the uses of objects gives my words their meanings. Such disclosure,

however, requires the bodily I can. Without this, my words lose their lived sense. The loss

of this I can is not, then, just the reduction of the body to a nonfunctioning object. It is also

the loss of the victims ability to enact and, hence, uncover for himself the senses that make

up the human world he shares with his others. The result is a concealment of his humanity in

a double sense. Not only does he not, in his mutilation, appear fully human; he is also cut off

from enacting the senses that humanity shares. He is, as it were, placed at a distance both

from the possibilities that give our finite humanity its exceeding quality and from the lived

sense of the language he requires to express his plight.

>he!her !he denia '+ !he h"mani!/ '+ !he '!her 'cc"rs !hr'"1h "nc'nsci'"s racia

s!ere'!/)in1 'r e)ici! 1'6ernmen! )'ic/ 'r !he "nderc"!!in1 '+ !he 6ic!imCs +"nc!i'nin1

,'d/# !he dan1er '+ a d'nard s)ira remains !he same. There can arise !ha! )r'cess '+ se+-

rein+'rcin1 ca"sa!i'n !ha! charac!eri*es !he )ec"iar 6ir"ence '+ e6i. In c'nceain1 !he

h"mani!/ '+ i!s 6ic!ims# e6i 1enera!es a ac9 '+ rec'1ni!i'n '+ !he na!"re '+ i!s ac!i'ns. This#

in !"rn# 1enera!es a ac9 '+ res!rain! in carr/in1 !hem '"!# hich 1enera!es a +"r!her

n'nrec'1ni!i'n# and s' 'n in a c'n!in"in1 )r'cess. In i!s 6er/ a,ii!/ !' esca)e rec'1ni!i'n#

i.e.# !' c'ncea i!se+# e6i !h"s seems !' ,e ca)a,e '+ an inde+ini!e e)ansi'n.

The )rac!ica and m'ra ="es!i'n here is: h' d' e c'm,a! !his?

H' d' e ,rea9 !hr'"1h !he se+-c'nceamen! '+ e6i? One '+ !he a6en"es '+ e)'ra!i'n

in6'6es eaminin1 !he di++eren! r'es shame and 1"i! )a/ in aer!in1 "s !' !he !res)ass '+

e6i. As e sha see# ,ehind '"r +eein1 ,'di/ shame is a sense '+ !he )ri6ac/ and

in6i'a,ii!/ '+ !he +esh !ha! em,'dies '"r @I can. The ,'di/ hiddenness !ha! "nder)ins

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!his )ri6ac/ i !"rn '"! !' ,e "ni="e/ @"ns)ea9a,e. The shame !ha! s!ands a!ch '6er i!

ser6es as a sien! 1"ard a1ains! i!s 6i'a!i'n. An'!her )a!h !ha! i ,e eamined i ,e !he

"se '+ i!era!"re !' sensi!i*e "s !' !he +ac! '+ e6iCs c'nceamen!. Me!a)h'rica/ s)ea9in1#

!he @'ins '+ reai!/ here s'me!hin1 has ,een e+! '"! 'r cens'red '+!en d' n'! +i! !'1e!her

e. A cer!ain ina))r')ria!eness remains as !he !race '+ ha! has ,een c'nceaed. In

e)'rin1 h' i!era!"re ma9es "s aare '+ !his# I sha eamine &'nradCs acc'"n! '+ e6i in

hisHeart of arkness. A !hird a6en"e i a))ear in !he s!'ries '+ !h'se h' ris9ed !heir

i6es !' resc"e Jes d"rin1 !he Sec'nd >'rd >ar. >ha! )r'm)!ed !hem !' ac! in !he +ace '+

!he c'erci'n and )r')a1anda '+ !he Na*i s!a!e as "s"a/ a direc! enc'"n!er i!h +eein1

Jes. sin1 !he e6idence '+ !he acc'"n!s '+ resc"e s!'red a! Yad 3ashem in Jer"saem# I

sha e)'re h' !his +ace-!'-+ace enc'"n!er !ri11ered !he rec'1ni!i'n '+ !he h"mani!/ '+ !he

'!her. M/ ="es!i'n i ,e: >ha! as i! in !his enc'"n!er !ha! re6eaed !he eceedin1 ="ai!/

'+ !he '!her# !h"s ,rea9in1 !hr'"1h !he s!ere'!/)es !ha! d'mina!ed s'cie!/?

The Question of Rights

Th'se h' ere +aced ,/ !he Jes see9in1 re+"1e ere# i/ ni/# )"! in !he

)'si!i'n '+ )a/in1 G'd. The i6es '+ !h'se h' a))eaed !' !hem ere in !heir hands.

N'rma/# '+ c'"rse# !his is n'! !he case. S'cie!/ is s"))'sed !' 1"ard a1ains! s"ch

si!"a!i'nsCs arisin1. I! d'es !his !hr'"1h c'des '+ ri1h!s !ha! !he s!a!e !hr'"1h i!s c'ns!i!"!i'n

is ,'"nd !' res)ec!. In !he An1'-Sa'n !radi!i'n# !hese ri1h!s are ,ased 'n an im)ici!

c'n!rac! ,e!een ci!i*ens and !heir 1'6ernmen!. Ori1ina/ end'ed i!h s"ch ri1h!s#

indi6id"as cede !he de+ense '+ !hem !' !he s!a!e in echan1e +'r i!s 1"aran!ees !' de+end !heir

sec"ri!/. Th"s# !he s!a!e 1ains a m'n')'/ 'n !he ins!r"men!s '+ 6i'ence# ,"! is s"))'sed !'

"se !his !' de+end !he inna!e ri1h!s '+ i!s ci!i*ens. &en!ra !' !his c'nce)!i'n is a 9ind '+

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a!'mis!ic 6ie '+ !he se+. Ri1h!s are c'nsidered !' inhere in !he se+ )ri'r !' s'cie!/. The

se+ !' hich !he/ accr"e is# !h"s# inde)enden! '+ s'cie!/. I! can ,e c'ncei6ed '+ a)ar! +r'm

i!s '!hers. The )'si!i'n I ha6e '"!ined# h'e6er# is !he '))'si!e '+ !his. I!s +"ndamen!a

)remise is !ha! se+h''d is in!ers",ec!i6e/ c'ns!i!"!ed. Gi6en !his# i! cann'! a6ai i!se+ '+

!he a!'mis!ic c'nce)!i'n '+ !he se+. The !h'"1h! !ha! !he se+ c'"d ,e de+ined 'r ha6e ri1h!s

a)ar! +r'm s'cie!/ is n'! )'ssi,e +'r i!. Nei!her is !he !h'"1h! !ha! !he de+ense '+ ri1h!s can

,e "nders!''d in !erms '+ an ass"med c'n!rac!. The ="es!i'n !ha! !h"s +aces "s is h' !'

re1ard s"ch ri1h!s. I+ !he/ are n'! an inheren!# inna!e )ar! '+ '"r se+h''dand# hence#

@inaiena,eh' are !he/ !' ,e "nders!''d? Par! '+ !he !as9 '+ '"r in="ir/ i ,e !'

anser !his ="es!i'n. >e sha !r/ !' "nders!and ri1h!s in !erms '+ !he +reed'm !ha! has i!s

r''!s in !he ecessi6e ="ai!/ '+ '"r se+h''d. S"ch +reed'm is in!ers",ec!i6e/ c'ns!i!"!ed.

I! de)ends ")'n '!herCs ma9in1 !heir )'ssi,ii!ies a6aia,e !' !he se+. O"r 1'a i ,e !'

"nders!and h' ri1h!s can +"nc!i'n as 1"ides !' !his c'ns!i!"!i'n.

Metaphysical and Theological Questions

The +ina se! '+ im)ica!i'ns '+ !he hiddenness !ha! s!ems +r'm !he ecessi6e charac!er

'+ '"r se+h''d re!"rns "s !' !he )'in! I earier !'"ched 'n. This is !ha! s"ch hiddenness

+'"nds !he hiddenness '+ !he @rea 'r @!r"e ,ein1 '+ !he 'rd. The +ac! !ha! !he 'rdCs

reai!/ is n'! a))aren! is n'! red"ci,e !' s'me sensi,/ a))earin1 )redica!e is !racea,e !'

!he n'na))earin1 '+ '!hers!he 6er/ '!hers h'm I m"s! ass"me !' ,e )'si!in1 !he 'rd

a'n1 i!h me i+ I am !' !a9e i! as rea. This de)endence '+ reai!/ 'n '!hers has cer!ain

me!a)h/sica and !he''1ica im)ica!i'ns. Acc'rdin1 !' Heide11er# @me!a)h/sica !hin9in1

res!s 'n !he dis!inc!i'n ,e!een ha! !r"/ is and ha!# meas"red a1ains! !his# c'ns!i!"!es a

!ha! is n'! !r"/ in ,ein1.$ Tradi!i'na/# !his dis!inc!i'n has ,een in!er)re!ed as !ha! ,e!een

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reai!/ and a))earance. The @rea 'r @!r"e 'rd has ,een ass"med !' ,e in!ei1i,e# /e!

n'na))earin1# hie !he a))earin1 'rd has ,een !a9en !' ,e !he 'rd !' hich '"r

sensi,e )redica!es a))/. an!Cs 6ie !ha! reai!/ is n'! a @rea 'r sens"'"s )redica!e is

'ne e)ressi'n '+ !his )'si!i'n. An'!her is !he 6ie '+ m'dern ma!hema!ica )h/sics !ha! !he

reai!/ '+ !he 'rd is 'n/ ca"1h! ,/ !he ma!hema!ica +'rm"as "sed !' descri,e i!. S"ch

+'rm"as e)ress !he in!ei1i,ii!/ '+ !he 'rd# an in!ei1i,ii!/ !ha! is reached 'n/ ,/

a,s!rac!in1 +r'm !he 'rdCs sens"'"s +ea!"res. I sha ar1"e !ha! ,ehind !his di6isi'n '+ !he

rea and !he a))aren! is !he r'e '+ '!hers in !he )'si!in1 '+ !he @rea 'rd. Their

n'na))earin1 is c'rrea!ed !' !he rea 'rdCs n'na))earin1. The in!ei1i,ii!/ ascri,ed !'

!his 'rd is !racea,e !' !he in!ei1i,ii!/ '+ !he in1"is!ic s/m,'s !ha! )"! each '+ "s in

c'n!ac! i!h !he n'na))earin1 men!a i+e '+ '"r '!hers. >i!h re1ard !' !he !he''1ica

im)ica!i'ns '+ '"r hiddenness# I sha eamine h' +ar a )arae ar1"men! can ,e made

a,'"! !he hi1hes! m's! !r"e# m's! rea ,ein1: G'd. In ha! sense is !he @hidden 1'd a

+"nc!i'n '+ '!hersi.e.# '+ !he ecessi6e ="ai!/ '+ !heir se+h''d? H' d'es !he di6ini!/

mani+es! !his hiddenness!ha! is# sh' "s i!s ecessi6e ="ai!/? H' d'es G'd# as !he

radica/ '!her# sh' himse+ as '!her !han "s in and !hr'"1h "s? S"ch ="es!i'ns i ,e

addressed in !he c'n!e! in hich G'dCs hiddenness as m's! readi/ a))aren!. In eaminin1

!he ="es!i'n '+ !he'dic/# I i c'nsider h' G'd sh'ed himse+ in !he h''ca"s!. The

@sience '+ G'd d"rin1 !his )eri'd i ,e !a9en as !he 'ccasi'n !' raise !he ="es!i'n '+ !he

)"r)'se and ',ec! '+ )ra/er.

Kant

The role Kant will play in the chapters that follow is a substantial one. The themes of

otherness and hiddenness have their roots in his writings. It was Kant who linked the

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positing of the real world to its positing by others. It was also Kant who first advanced a

radical sense of our self-hiddenness. This is the sense that we can grasp ourselves only as we

appear, not as we are in ourselves. In ourselves, we are completely hidden. For Kant, this

hiddenness stems from the fact that time is nothing in itself, but is rather our product.

Reduced to its bare bones, his argument for this is relatively straightforward. It begins with

the insight that everything we experience is extended in time. If this were not the case, i.e., if

each impression we have of an object were to vanish the moment after its apprehension, then

we would never have more than a fleeting consciousness of it. To avoid this, we must

preserve what we experience. But this, according to Kant, means that we must reproduce our

impression of it, i.e., bring it back again after its initial givenness so that it can remain

present. This reproduced presence is the presence of our past. For Kant, temporalization is

this very process. It is our generating the past through the act of reproduction. Engaging in

it, we insert each momentary impression we have of some object into the extended time that

stretches beyond the momentary present into the past. We ourselves generate this time

through our act of reproducing and hence preserving what we experience. A more detailed

account of this process will be taken up in the first chapter. For the present, all we need note

is that if we accept Kants argument, then the selfs generation of time is essentially a self-

concealing act. This follows because the self that temporalizes cannot be in time. Since time

is a subjective construct, were the self in time, it would be such a construct; but this would

imply that there was another self behind it who would be responsible for its being in time.

The implication of placing the time-constituting self in time is thus an infinite regress of

selves behind selves. To be in time, however, is an absolutely necessary condition for the

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appearing that extends beyond the momentary impression. Given this, we have to say that

the self that appears, i.e., the temporally extended self, is not the real, time-constituting self.

To generate time is, then, to hide the latter since we inevitably take the appearing, temporally

extended self as our reality.

F'r an!# !hen# e ha6e !' +'rms '+ hiddenness# 'ne im)ici!# !he '!her e)ici!. The

+irs! is !he hiddenness '+ !he reai!/ '+ !he 'rd# hich# n'! ,ein1 a @rea )redica!e# )'in!s

!' !he hiddenness '+ '"r '!hers. The sec'nd is !he hiddenness '+ each s",ec! !' i!se+ ,/

6ir!"e '+ i!s ac! '+ !em)'rai*a!i'n. The immedia!e !as9 in !he cha)!ers !ha! +'' i ,e !'

in9 !hese !' +'rms. D'in1 s' i !rans+'rm an!Cs )'si!i'n. Fr'm a !he'r/ em)hasi*in1

!he indi6id"aCs c'ns!i!"!i'n '+ !ime and his 'r her c'nse="en! hiddenness# an acc'"n! i

arise !ha! ac9n'ed1es !ha! !ime in i!s "nendin1 h'eness is 1r'"nded 'n !he 'n1'in1

in!ers",ec!i6e c'mm"ni!/. I!# !h"s# has !he same ,asis as !he !hesis '+ !he reai!/ '+ !he

'rd. The "!ima!e im)ica!i'n here is !ha! '"r hiddenness has an in!ers",ec!i6e ra!her

!han an indi6id"a 1r'"nd. The cha)!ers !ha! +'' i dra '"! !he im)ica!i'ns '+ !his +'r

'"r se+h''d. As indica!ed# !hese i ran1e +r'm m'rai!/ and )'i!ics !' me!a)h/sics and

!he''1/. The ,read!h '+ '"r in="ir/ indica!es !he de)!hs c'nceaed ,/ i!s s",ec!# name/#

'"rse6es in '"r hiddenness and a!eri!/.%

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CHAPTERI

TEMPORALIKATIONASTHETRA&EOFTHES8JE&T

Man/ readers i +ind i! c"ri'"s# i+ n'! )arad'ica# !' ,e1in a 'r9 'n !he

)hen'men''1/ '+ hiddenness and a!eri!/ i!h a cha)!er 'n an!Cs )hi's')h/. The

)hen'men''1ica eamina!i'n '+ a!eri!/ has ,een a !heme '+ recen! French )hi's')h/.

an!Cs cri!ica )hi's')h/# h'e6er# in ,'!h i!s me!h'ds and s)iri!# seems !' ,e a! i!s '))'si!e

)'e. In i!s ded"c!i6e a))r'ach# an!Cs Critiue of &ure Reasoneem)i+ies a se6ere

ra!i'nai!/B i!s s!r"c!"res '+ ar1"men! and )r''+ '+!en a,s!rac! +r'm '"r i6ed e)erience. The

)hi's')hies '+ Derrida and Le6inas# h'e6er# a!!end !' s"ch e)erience. In )ar!ic"ar# !he/

are sensi!i6e !' )recise/ !h'se as)ec!s '+ i! !ha! seem !' eceed '"r c'nce)!"a a,ii!ies.

Th"s# +'r Le6inas !he +ace '+ !he '!her mani+es!s an @ina,s'r,a,e a!eri!/. I! cann'! ,e

in!e1ra!ed in!' '"r ca!e1'ries. Simiar/# DerridaCs acc'"n! '+ di++erance is an acc'"n! '+

h' !he 'rd eceeds an/ c'sed ra!i'na s!r"c!"re. Phen'men''1ica/# s"ch eceedin1

mani+es!s i!se+ in !he @!race. This is an a))earin1 !ha! is sim"!ane'"s/ a c'nceain1. S"ch

!h'"1h!s# I am 1'in1 !' ar1"e# are n'! en!ire/ +'rei1n !' an!Cs )'si!i'n. In +ac!# a ,asis +'r

s"ch a c'nce)!i'n can ,e +'"nd in an!Cs acc'"n! '+ !em)'rai*a!i'n. &'se/ read# !he

acc'"n! sh's !ha! !em)'rai*a!i'n is a se+-c'nceain1 )r'cess. In +ac!# !he s/n!heses !ha!

1enera!e !ime 1enera!e !heir 'n c'nceamen!. In d'in1 s'# !he/ ehi,i! !he s",ec! as a

,ein1 !ha! 1i6es i!se+ as not,ein1 a,e !' ,e 1i6en. As e sha see# !he/ 1i6e i! !he s!a!"s '+

DerridaCs @!race.

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The Regressive Method

An/ c'nsidera!i'n '+ !he n'n1i6enness '+ !he an!ian s",ec! m"s! ,e1in i!h a

men!i'n '+ his re1ressi6e me!h'd. F'r man/ cri!ics# !his me!h'd "ndermines !he )'ssi,ii!/

'+ ma9in1 !he s",ec! in!"i!i6e/ 1i6en. H"sser# +'r eam)e# ri!es !ha! an!Cs @1rea!

disc'6er/ '+ !he @"nders!andin1 and i!s +"nc!i'ns @c'"d ne6er ,e ac!"a/ 1r'"nded 'r

e6en ,e +"/ c'm)rehensi,e ... as !he res"! '+ his )"re/ re1ressi6e me!h'd.4 This is

,eca"se !his me!h'd# in see9in1 !' "nc'6er !he c'ndi!i'ns '+ !he )'ssi,ii!/ '+ e)erience#

"!ima!e/ m'6es "s +e!ond e#erience. Ini!ia/# !he me!h'd# in i!s search +'r s"ch

c'ndi!i'ns# can ,e c'ncei6ed as a re1ressi'n !' !he )hen'mena s",ec!. As s"ch# i! ,rin1s "s

!' !he ream '+ @inner sense# !ha! is# !' ha! seems !' ,e a direc! ins)ec!i'n '+ '"r s",ec!i6e

+"nc!i'ns and +ac"!ies. Here# man/ '+ an!Cs res"!s# )ar!ic"ar/ i!h re1ard !' !he

s/n!heses '+ !he ima1ina!i'n# are s!ri9in1/ simiar !' !h'se '+ H"sserCs )hen'men''1/.

The re1ressi6e me!h'd# h'e6er# "ndermines !hese res"!s ,/ )assin1 ,e/'nd !his ream !'

as9 +'r itsc'ndi!i'ns. I! d'es s' hen i! in="ires in!' !he c'ndi!i'ns '+ !he )'ssi,ii!/ '+ !ime

i!se+. Since !he rea!i'ns '+ inner sense are !em)'ra# !' as9 +'r a 1r'"nd '+ !ime is !' )ass

,e/'nd s"ch rea!i'ns. I! is !' re1ress +r'm !he )hen'mena/ +"nc!i'nin1 s",ec! !' a s",ec!

h'se +"nc!i'nin1 is essen!ia/ hidden. In H"sserCs 'rds# !he re1ressi6e me!h'd ends i!h

@a m'de '+ !he s",ec!i6e hich e# in )rinci)e# cann'! ma9e in!"i!i6e !' '"rse6es ei!her ,/

+ac!"a eam)es 'r ,/ 1en"ine ana'1/.5

This ',ec!i'n can ,e e)ressed in !erms '+ an!Cs )'si!i'n !ha! inner sense @)resen!s

e6en '"rse6es !' c'nsci'"sness 'n/ as e a))ear !' '"rse6es# n'! as e are in '"rse6es

Kdr/# 8 (%2-%0BAk. III# (27. This means !ha! !he +"nc!i'nin1 !ha! e ',ser6e !hr'"1h

inner sense is 'n/ !he +"nc!i'nin1 '+ !he a##earings",ec!. The s",ec! h' +"nc!i'ns !'

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25/285

c'm,ina!i'n# i!s "ni!/ is !h"s !ha! '+ an unc'm,ined c'm,iner.(7 I! has !he "ni!/ '+ a

nona))earin1# n'"mena s",ec!. In s"mmar/# since a a))earin1 re="ires c'm,ina!i'n '+

!he mani+'d# as "nc'm,ined# !he ac!in1 s",ec! cann'! a))ear. &'m,ina!i'n is i!s +"nc!i'nB

/e!# as a c'm,iner# i! +as '"!side '+ !he ca!e1'ries '+ a))earance.

Gi6en !he a,'6e# i! seems# in H"sserCs 'rds# !ha! e @cann'! ma9e in!"i!i6e !'

'"rse6es ei!her ,/ +ac!"a eam)es 'r ,/ 1en"ine ana'1/ !he na!"re '+ !his c'm,ina!'r/

+"nc!i'n. This is !he ,asis '+ H"sserCs c'm)ain! @a,'"! !he ',sc"ri!/ '+ !he an!ian

)hi's')h/# a,'"! !he inc'm)rehensi,ii!/ '+ !he e6idences '+ his re1ressi6e me!h'd# '+ i!s

!ranscenden!a-s",ec!i6e +ac"!ies#C +"nc!i'ns# +'rma!i'ns# a,'"! !he di++ic"!/ '+

"nders!andin1 ha! !ranscenden!a s",ec!i6i!/ ac!"a/ is# h' i!s +"nc!i'nin1# i!s

acc'm)ishmen! c'mes a,'"! ... .(( In H"sserCs 6ie# !he +ac! !ha! e @cann'! ma9e

in!"i!i6e !' '"rse6es !he na!"re '+ !his +"nc!i'n means !ha! @an! +as in!' his 'n !/)e '+

m/!hic s)eech in descri,in1 i!. I! is m/!hic ,eca"se e ha6e n' e6idence !' "d1e s"ch

descri)!i'ns. >e inheren!/ ac9 !he re="ired e6idence since an!Cs re1ressi6e me!h'd has

"nderc"! !he 6er/ )'ssi,ii!/ '+ )r'6idin1 i!.

As is ',6i'"s# !he ,asis '+ !his ',ec!i'n is !he dis!inc!i'n ,e!een !he a))earin1 and

!he n'na))earin1 I. This is a dis!inc!i'n !ha! an! ma9es in !erms '+ !he +"nc!i'n '+

!em)'rai*a!i'n. T' see h' +ar !his ',ec!i'n ac!"a/ h'ds# e m"s! eamine an!Cs

)'r!ra/a '+ !his +"nc!i'n. In 9ee)in1 i!h H"sserCs cri!i="e# '"r eamina!i'n i ,e

)hen'men''1ica ra!her !han ana/!ica. >e i# in '!her 'rds# !a9e !he ream '+ @inner

sense as a )hen'men''1ica/ accessi,e +ied. The main s'"rce +'r '"r a))r'ach i ,e

!he A edi!i'n.

Temporalization and the Synthesis of the Imagination

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an!Cs descri)!i'n '+ !he 1enera!i'n '+ !ime a))ears )rimari/ in his acc'"n! '+ !he

s/n!heses '+ !he ima1ina!i'n. S"ch s/n!heses are re="ired i+ e are !' 1ras) an/ !em)'ra/

e!ended ',ec!. F'r s"ch a 1ras) se6era c'ndi!i'ns m"s! ,e me!. The +irs! c'mes +r'm !he

+ac! !ha! !he a))rehensi'n '+ !his ',ec! in6'6es a @m"!i)ici!/ '+ !em)'ra/ dis!inc!

im)ressi'ns. S"ch an a))rehensi'n# an! ri!es# '"d ,e im)'ssi,e @i+ !he mind did n'!

dis!in1"ish !ime in !he s"ccessi'n '+ im)ressi'ns (indr0cke +''in1 'ne an'!her Kdr/#

A ;;BAk. I3# 55. The im)ressi'ns m"s! ,e 1i6en dis!inc! !em)'ra 'ca!i'ns. The/ m"s!# e

can sa/# ,e inser!ed in!' de+ini!e# "nchan1in1 )'si!i'ns in an ',ec!i6e# s"ccessi6e/ 1i6en

!ime. The sec'nd c'ndi!i'n is !ha! '+ re)r'd"c!i'n. As an! ri!es# @... i+ I ere !' 'se +r'm

m/ !h'"1h! !he )recedin1 )resen!a!i'ns/orstellungen ... and n'! re)r'd"ce !hem hen I

ad6ance !' !h'se hich +''# a c'm)e!e )resen!a!i'n /orstellung '"d ne6er arise ...

Kdr/# A (72BAk. I3# 5;.(2 The re="iremen!# !hen# is !ha! '+ ma9in1 c'-)resen! !he

im)ressi'ns 'r )resen!a!i'ns hich# acc'rdin1 !' !he +irs! c'ndi!i'n# e m"s! dis!in1"ish

acc'rdin1 !' s"ccessi6e !em)'ra )'si!i'ns. I+ e did n'! dis!in1"ish !hem# e mi1h! !a9e

ha! e ha6e re)r'd"ced as s'me!hin1 ne. S' re1arded# i! '"d n'! ,e rec'1ni*ed as t%e

sa"eas ha! e earier e)erienced. Re)r'd"c!i'n# !hen# can +"+i i!s +"nc!i'n '+ ,rin1in1

!he )as! ") !' !he )resen! 'n/ i+ e are ca)a,e '+ rec'1ni*in1 !ha! !he re)r'd"ced c'n!en! is

!he same as !he c'n!en! 'ri1ina/ 1i6en in !he )as!. In an!Cs 'rds# @>i!h'"! !he

c'nsci'"sness !ha! ha! e !hin9 is# in +ac!# !he same as ha! e !h'"1h! a m'men! ,e+'re#

a re)r'd"c!i'n in !he series '+ )resen!a!i'ns '"d ,e "seess Kdr/# A (70BAk. I3# 5;.

This is ,eca"se i!h'"! !his c'nsci'"sness# !he re)r'd"ced '"d a))ear as s'me!hin1 ne*.

As s"ch# i! '"d n'! ,e !em)'ra/ dis!in1"ished +r'm !he im)ressi'ns hich e are

)resen!/ e)eriencin1. N'# !he c'nsci'"sness !ha! a re)r'd"c!i'n is nota ne*)resen!a!i'n

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is a c'nsci'"sness !ha! ha! i! re)r'd"cesi.e.# i!s c'n!en!is s'me!hin1#ast.

Re)r'd"c!i'n# !hen# m"s! n'! "s! re)r'd"ce. I! m"s! as' m'di+/. Re)r'd"c!i'n m"s! add

n'!-neness 'r )as!ness !' !he c'n!en! i! re)r'd"ces. This m'di+ica!i'n is re)r'd"c!i'nCs

1enera!i'n '+ !ime +'r i! a's !ime !' ,e dis!in1"ished @in !he s"ccessi'n '+ im)ressi'ns

+''in1 'ne an'!her.

The re="iremen!s "s! is!ed can ,e me! i+ e !hin9 '+ re)r'd"c!i'n as a seria ac!i'n.

This d'es n'! "s! mean !ha! each @ad6ance !' a s",se="en! im)ressi'n in6'6es a

re)r'd"c!i'n '+ !he )recedin1 im)ressi'n. I! as' si1ni+ies !ha!# in !he ne! ad6ance# !his

re)r'd"c!i'n i itself +e re#roduceda'n1 i!h !he )recedin1 im)ressi'n. The same

necessi!/ 1'6erns ,'!h !he re)r'd"c!i'n '+ !his re)r'd"c!i'n and !ha! '+ !he )recedin1

im)ressi'n. >i!h'"! re)r'd"c!i'n# +ot% *ould +e lostas I ad6anced !'ards !he ne!

im)ressi'n. In '!her 'rds# in 'rder +'r !he res"! '+ m/ re)r'd"c!i6e ac! n'! !' ,e 's!# !his

re)r'd"c!i'n m"s! i!se+ ,e re)r'd"ced as I ad6ance. Simiar/# !his re)r'd"c!i'n '+ !he

re)r'd"c!i'n '+ m/ 'ri1ina c'n!en! m"s!# in !"rn# ,e re)r'd"ced i+ i! is n'! !' ,e 's! in a

+"r!her ad6ance. Th"s# as 'n1 as I 9ee) !he 'ri1ina c'n!en! as )ar! '+ a @c'm)e!e

)resen!a!i'n# !he seria )r'cess '+ re)r'd"c!i'n m"s! c'n!in"e.(0

This )r'cess# in hich im)ressi'ns are re)r'd"ced and !hese re)r'd"c!i'ns are

!hemse6es re)r'd"ced# mar9s a 1i6en im)ressi'n as increasin1/ n'! ne 'r )as!. >i!h !he

increase '+ !he re)r'd"c!i'ns '+ re)r'd"c!i'ns ... '+ i!s 'ri1ina c'n!en!# !he im)ressi'n is

e)erienced as sh'6ed +"r!her and +"r!her ,ac9 in!' !he )as! e6en as i! is ,r'"1h! ") !' !he

)resen! ,/ !he re)r'd"c!i6e ac!. This sh'6in1 ,ac9 'r e)ira!i'n is "s! en'"1h !' 9ee) i! in

i!s 'ri1ina !em)'ra )'si!i'n. >i!h each ad6ance# !he c'n!en! is re)r'd"ced. Each

re)r'd"c!i'n mar9s i! as re#roduced# !ha! is# as not original'r not ne*. Th"s# each ad6ance

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!' a s",se="en! im)ressi'n is ma!ched ,/ a sh'6in1 ,ac9 '+ a )re6i'"s im)ressi'n. This

ac!i'n 9ee)s !he im)ressi'n in a dis!inc!# i+ recedin1 )ace in !ime e6en as i! 9ee)s i! in

c'nsci'"sness.

The same serial process, when applied to a number of successively given impressions,

yields the succession of impressions following one another. Each of these occupies its

own place in departing time. As reproduced, all are co-present in our consciousness. All are

part of our apprehension of a complete presentation. Since, however, they are all

experienced as expiring, this presentation is of an extended temporal event. An extended

event, for example, the flight of a bird through a garden, is grasped through a multitude of

temporally distinct impressions, each of which is grasped as expiring. We thus grasp the

birds motion through a co-present succession. Its temporally distinct members maintain

their internal order as new impressions are added to them. Each new addition is the occasion

of their being collectively shoved back as they are retained by being reproduced.

T' 1ras) !his +i1h!# i! is# '+ c'"rse# n'! en'"1h !' 6ie !'1e!her a m"!i!"de '+

!em)'ra/ dis!inc!# e)irin1 im)ressi'ns. S"ch im)ressi'ns m"s! ,e !a9en as im)ressi'ns '+

a dis!inc! en!i!/name/# !he ,ird. This c'ndi!i'n is an eam)e '+ ha! an! cas @!he

s/n!hesis '+ rec'1ni!i'n in a c'nce)! Kdr/# A(70BAk. I3# 5;. In !his case# !he c'nce)! is

!ha! '+ s",s!ance# de+ined as !ha! hich a,ides hie i!s @em)irica de!ermina!i'n in !ime

chan1es Kdr/# A($0BAk. I3# (72. The +/in1 ,ird# as @!he rea in !ime# is !h'"1h! '+ as

remainin1 !he same !hr'"1h i!s chan1in1 )'si!i'ns. N'# !' rec'1ni*e !he ,ird as t%e sa"e

,ird as i! +ies# I ha6e !' 1ras) i! as !he iden!ica re+eren! '+ a m"!i!"de '+ )erce)!i'ns. Each

'+ !he m'men!ar/ )erce)!i'ns m"s! ,e seen as a )erce)!i'n '+ 'ne and !he same ',ec!. Each

)resen!s i!. Ye!# ha! each )resen!s is n'! i!se+ 'ne '+ !hese )resen!a!i'ns. In i!se+# !his

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',ec! is an # an em)!/ re+eren! )'in!. In an!Cs 'rds# @!his ',ec! m"s! ,e !h'"1h! '+ 'n/

as s'me!hin1 in 1enera ... Kdr/# A(7$BAk. I3# 7. >hen e )'si! i!# e ass"me an

e!erna de!erminan! '+ '"r )resen!a!i'ns# 'ne hich )re6en!s !hem +r'm ,ein1 @ha)ha*ard

'r ar,i!rar/ in !heir c'm)'si!i'n and arran1emen!. 8e/'nd !his# h'e6er# !he dis!inc!i'n '+

!he @',ec! +r'm @a '"r re)resen!a!i'ns# em)!ies i! '+ em)irica c'n!en!.

Phen'men''1ica/ re1arded# !he sim)/ desi1na!es !he c'mm'n re+eren! +'r a m"!i!"de

'+ )erce)!i'ns. As !he same +'r a# i! is dis!in1"ished +r'm each '+ !hem.($ Ins'+ar as !he

,ird is !a9en as s"ch an # i! is !h"s dis!in1"ished +r'm !he !em)'ra )'si!i'ns '+ !he

)erce)!i'ns !ha! )resen! i!. J"s! as each )erce)!i'n is @'+ i!# s' each !em)'ra )'si!i'n re+ers

!' i!. I! i!se+# h'e6er# is n'! imi!ed !' an/ 'ne '+ !hem. As a c'mm'n re+eren!# i!s sense#

ra!her# is !ha! '+ s'me!hin1 end"rin1 !hr'"1h !hem. >ha! !he s/n!hesis '+ rec'1ni!i'n in a

c'nce)! 1enera!es hen e )'si! !he @rea in !ime is# !hen# !he sense '+ !ime as end"rin1.

&'ncre!e/# !his sense c'mes a,'"! 'n/ i!h !he s/n!hesis !ha! a's "s !' rec'1ni*e an

',ec! as !he same in a m"!i!"de '+ chan1in1 )erce)!i'ns. (%

The Underlying Amiguity of !ant"s #escription

In s)i!e '+ a i!s c'nce)!"a and !echnica ,riiance# an!Cs acc'"n! c'n!ains a ,asic

am,i1"i!/. 1n t%e one %and, it i"#lies t%at re#roduction is necessar! to gras# a seuence.

Acc'rdin1 !' an!# ere e !' 'se !he )recedin1 eemen!s '+ !he se="ence as e ad6anced

!' !h'se !ha! +''# e '"d ne6er ,e a,e !' 1e! a @c'm)e!e )resen!a!i'n. S"ch a

)resen!a!i'n# h'e6er# is re="ired i+ e are !' @6ie !'1e!her !he eemen!s !ha! +'rm !he

se="ence. Th"s# I can a))rehend !he se="ence 'n/ !hr'"1h a @s/n')sis '+ !he mani+'dB

and !his s/n')sis re="ires m/ re)r'd"cin1 e)ired m'men!s Kdr/# A;5BAk. I3# 54. The

same ar1"men! a))ies !' !he +eing'+ s"ccessi6e !ime: i! as' re="ires m/ re)r'd"cin1

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e)ired m'men!s. This +''s ,eca"se !imeCs ,ein1 is i!s a))earin1. S"ccessi6e !ime# in

'!her 'rds# 'n/ eis!s in m/ c'nsci'"sness. O"!side '+ m/ a))rehensi'n# !here are n'

e)ired m'men!sB !here is n' @)as!. Gi6en !his# I ha6e !' sa/ !ha! in re)r'd"cin1 s"ch

m'men!s I 1enera!e s"ccessi6e !ime. 1n t%e ot%er %and, Kants account of re#roduction

#resu##oses t%e notion of a seuence. In d'in1 s'# i! ass"mes !ha! s"ccessi6e !ime aread/

eis!s. This ass"m)!i'n is im)ied in !he !h'"1h! '+ an @ad6ance !' a @s",se="en!

im)ressi'n# !he ad6ance ,ein1 !he 'ccasi'n '+ !he re)r'd"c!i'n !ha! )reser6es !he

@)recedin1 im)ressi'n. In s"ch a c'nce)!i'n# e are aread/ !hin9in1 '+ im)ressi'ns as

,ein1 se="en!ia/ 1i6en. Th"s# in an!Cs acc'"n!# !he n'!i'n !ha! I re)r'd"ce !he#revious

im)ressi'n a! !he m'men! '+ !he netim)ressi'n ass"mes !ha! !he )re6i'"s im)ressi'n '"d

e)ire 'r ,e @'s! i+ I did n'! re)r'd"ce i!. 8"! !his is !' ass"me !ha! !ime alread! eistsas a

s"ccessi'n '+ )re6i'"s and a!er m'men!s. an!# h'e6er# insis!s !ha! !ime is n'!hin1 @in

i!se+. I! is# ra!her# !he res"! '+ m/ ac!i'n# in )ar!ic"ar m/ ac! '+ re)r'd"c!i'n. Th"s# i! is

!he c'ns!an! I-ac!-!'-re)r'd"ce !ha! 1enera!es !ime in !he dis!inc!i'n '+ i!s m'men!s.(4

H' can a descri)!i'n '+ !he 1enera!i'n '+ !ime in i!s s"ccessi6e charac!er )res"))'se

s"ch a charac!er? Is an!# here# ca"1h! in a circ"ari!/ !ha! ma9es his acc'"n! +"ndamen!a/

am,i1"'"s? >hie !he !h'"1h! '+ a6'idin1 !his char1e ma/ ha6e m'!i6a!ed an! in !he 8

edi!i'n !' dr') !he A edi!i'nCs )hen'men''1ica acc'"n! '+ !he !hree+'d s/n!hesis# !his d'es

n'!# in +ac!# eimina!e !he di++ic"!/. The am,i1"i!/ in ="es!i'n is inheren! in !he '1ic '+

an!Cs )'si!i'n.(5 I! +''s +r'm his dis!inc!i'n '+ !he )hen'mena +r'm !he n'"mena. This

dis!inc!i'n res!s 'n !' asser!i'ns. The +irs! is !ha! !ime d'es n'! a))/ !' !hin1s in

!hemse6es# ,"! is ra!her s'me!hin1 I add !' ma9e e)erience )'ssi,e. This im)ies !ha! !ime

is m/ )r'd"c!# !ha! I 1enera!e !ime !hr'"1h m/ ac!i6i!/. The sec'nd is !ha! a a))earin1 is

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a))earin1 in !ime. As e s!a!ed earier# a a))earin1 re="ires a c'm,ina!i'n '+ !he mani+'d

'+ in!"i!i'ns. I! !h"s re="ires a 1ras) '+ !he ',ec! !hr'"1h a s/n!hesis '+ i!s !em)'ra/

dis!inc! )erce)!i'ns. The res"!in1 a))earance is !h"s s)read '"! in !ime. >hen e c'm,ine

!hese !'# e ha6e !' sa/ !ha! in 1enera!in1 !ime# !he s",ec! 1enera!es !he medi"m !hr'"1h

hich !hin1s a))ear. This a))ies !' !he a))earance '+ i!s 'n ac! '+ 1enera!in1 !ime. This

ac!# !hen# can 'n/ a))ear as a !em)'ra )r'cess. Hence# it "ust a##ear as so"et%ing t%at

#resu##oses ti"e as alread! given in its seuential c%aracter. The same h'ds +'r !he

descri)!i'ns '+ !his ac!. T' !he )'in! !ha! !he/ ma9e i! in!"i!i6e/ e6iden!# !he/ 1e! ca"1h! in

!he circ"ari!/ descri,ed a,'6e.

an!Cs acc'"n! '+ !he "ni!/ '+ !he mani+'d '+ in!"i!i'ns is a 1''d i"s!ra!i'n '+ !his

)'in!. Acc'rdin1 !' an! in !he 8 edi!i'n# ha! "ni+ies !his mani+'d is !he sense I ha6e !ha!

a !he in!"i!i'ns c'm)'sin1 i! are mine. The/ are mine ,eca"se I c'm,ine !hem.( H' d' I

9n' !his? an!Cs anser is !ha! I ha6e an immedia!e sense '+ m/ @I ac!. In his 'rds# @I

eis! as an in!ei1ence hich is c'nsci'"s s'e/ '+ i!s )'er '+ c'm,ina!i'n Kdr/# 8(%B

Ak. III# (2$. This se+-c'nsci'"sness is# !hen# an immedia!e sense '+ !he ,asic ac! '+

c'm,inin1. 8/ 6ir!"e '+ !his sense# I !a9e ha! I c'm,ine as ,e'n1in1 !' me. The

mani+'dCs "ni!/ !h"s res!s 'n i!s ha6in1 a sin1e 'ner. N'# !' ma9e !he a,'6e

)hen'men''1ica/ e6iden!# e ha6e !' !"rn !' !he A edi!i'nCs acc'"n! '+ !he re)r'd"c!i6e

s/n!hesis. I! is 'n/ in !erms '+ !his !ha! e can see h' e can ha6e an immedia!e sense '+

!he @I ac!. In !he 8 edi!i'n# e are mere/ !'d !ha! @e in!"i! '"rse6es 'n/ as e are

inard/ affected ,/ '"rse6es Kdr/# 8(%0BAk. III# (27. >e are n'! !'d h' !he inard

a++ec!i'n '+ '"r ac! '+ c'm,inin1 !he mani+'d arises. The same h'ds i!h re1ard !' h'

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!his ac! ac!"a/ 1i6es rise !' !he idea !ha! !he in!"i!i'ns c'm,ined ,e'n1 !' !he c'm,iner

!ha! is# h' !he sense '+ @I c'm,ine ma9es !he c'm,ined @mine.

>hen e d' !"rn !' !he A edi!i'n# e see !he @I c'm,ine as !he @I re)r'd"ce. Each

ac! '+ re)r'd"c!i'n adds or co"+ines!he re)r'd"ced !' !he 'ri1ina/ 1i6en im)ressi'na

ma!eria. I! d'es !his a1ain and a1ain as I ad6ance !' ne im)ressi'ns. 8eca"se '+ !his#

re)r'd"c!i'n is !he c're ac! '+ s/n!hesis 'r @)"!!in1 !'1e!her. I! is ha! m"s! ,e

)res"))'sed in m/ a!!ainmen! '+ a c'm)e!e )resen!a!i'n. N'# ha! I re)r'd"ce is# in each

case# m/ ,ein1-a++ec!ed ,/ an im)ressi'n. Re)r'd"c!i'n !h"s )resen!s !' !he se+ i!s ,ein1-

a++ec!ed. Gi6en !ha! !his )resen!a!i'n itself %as an affective ualit!# !he )resen!a!i'n !' i!se+

'+ i!s ,ein1-a++ec!ed is a )r'cess ,/ hich !heself affects itself. In re#roduction, t%en, *e

%ave t%e #ri"itive ger" of t%e auto-affection of consciousness. I am )resen! !' m/ se+ in m/

a++ec!in1 m/se+. This se+-)resence inc"des !he )resence '+ m/ ac! '+ re)r'd"c!i'n. This

+''s ,eca"se !he immedia!e +'c"s '+ !he ac! is# a+!er !he +irs! ins!ance# n'! an im)ressi'n

,"! a re)r'd"c!i'n '+ an im)ressi'n. Th"s# as I ad6ance !' a @c'm)e!e )resen!a!i'n# I

re)r'd"ce !he re)r'd"c!i'ns '+ !he re)r'd"c!i'ns ... '+ m/ 'ri1ina im)ressi'ns. Insofar as

t%e focus of re#roduction is re#roduction itself, self-reference is in%erent in it. '%is self-

reference is t%e self-#resence of t%e act. >i!h !his# h'e6er# I as' ha6e !he sense !ha! !he

im)ressi'ns !ha! a++ec! me are "ine. The/ are "ine +ecause, *it%out "e, t%e! *ould not +e

t%ere. As re)r'd"ced# !he/ are mine ,eca"se !he/ c'n!in"a/ de)end 'n m/ ac!i'n '+

re)r'd"c!i'n. S"mmin1 ")# e can sa/ !ha! !he a"!'-a++ec!i'n '+ c'nsci'"sness# hich arises

+r'm re)r'd"c!i'n# has !' res"!s. I! 1i6es me a sense '+ immedia!e se+-)resence as ,ased

'n m/ se+-a++ec!i'n. I! as' /ieds !ha! sense !ha! e6er/!hin1 a++ec!in1 me is mine ins'+ar as

i! is c'rrea!ed !' m/ @)'er '+ c'm,ina!i'n. I# !h"s# 1ras) sim"!ane'"s/ !he "ni!/ '+ m/

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ac!i'n and !he "ni!/ '+ !he mani+'d '+ in!"i!i'ns# !he a!!er ,ein1 !he sense !ha! each '+ !he

in!"i!i'ns c'm)'sin1 i! is @mine.

The a,'6e acc'"n! is dran +r'm !he A edi!i'n. In i!s a!!em)! !' ma9e !he se+-

a++ec!i'n '+ c'nsci'"sness )hen'men''1ica/ e6iden!# i! ass"mes !ha! I can ac!"a/ 1ras)

m/se+ in m/ @)'er '+ c'm,ina!i'n. Ye!# as an! remar9s in !he 8 edi!i'n# !he s",ec!Cs

@c'nsci'"sness '+ i!se+ is 6er/ +ar +r'm ,ein1 a 9n'ed1e '+ !he se+ ... Kdr/# 8(%BAk.

III# (20. In +ac!# he adds# @I ha6e n' 9n'ed1e '+ m/se+ as I am ,"! mere/ as I a))ear !'

m/se+ i,id.. The admissi'n +''s +r'm !he +ac! !ha! I can 'n/ a))ear !' m/se+ in

!erms '+ !he a))earance !ha! I# in m/ ac!i'n# ma9e )'ssi,e. This is im)ied ,/ !he a,'6e

acc'"n!. Ye!# 'nce e 1ran! i!# i! immedia!e/ "ndermines !his acc'"n!. I! d'es s' ,/

remindin1 "s !ha! !he re)r'd"c!i6e ac! )res"))'ses in i!s descri)!i'ns !he res"!s !ha! i! i!se+

ma9es )'ssi,e. As e ha6e seen# s"ch descri)!i'ns im)ici!/ ass"me !ha! !he se="ence '+

!ime is aread/ 1i6en. Ins'+ar as !he/ d'# !he/ im)/ !ha! !he e++ec! '+ re)r'd"c!i'n is sim)/

!ha! '+ ma9in1 !he mem,ers '+ an aread/ eis!en! !em)'ra se="ence c'-)resen! and# hence#

a6aia,e !' in!r's)ec!i'n. In d'in1 s'# h'e6er# !he/ "nderc"! an!Cs )'in! in descri,in1

!his ac!# name/# !ha! !ime is '"r )r'd"c!. >i!h'"! '"r ac!i'n !here '"d# +'r an!# ,e n'

!em)'ra se="ences. The same h'ds +'r !he a))earance '+ !he se+ hen i! is !h'"1h! '+ in

!erms '+ !he ac! '+ c'm,ina!i'n. M/ immedia!e sense '+ m/se+ is# acc'rdin1 !' !he a,'6e

acc'"n!# a sense '+ !his ac!. Since# h'e6er# !ime is m/ )r'd"c!# I can ma9e !his in!"i!i6e !'

m/se+ 'n/ in !erms '+ !he res"!s '+ !his ac!. This sense# !hen# is imi!ed !' m/se+ @as I

a))ear# n'! @m/se+ as I am.

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Temporality as The Trace of the Self

This ana/sis re!"rns "s !' H"sserCs ',ec!i'n !ha! an!# !hr'"1h his me!h'd# s",6er!s

his 'n )'si!i'n. Is !his c'rrec!? D'es his acc'"n! "ndermine !he )'ssi,ii!/ '+

)hen'men''1ica e6idence +'r i!s asser!i'ns? an!Cs eimina!i'n '+ !he descri)!i'n '+ !he

!hree+'d s/n!hesis cer!ain/ )'in!s in !his direc!i'n. D'es n'! !he descri)!i'nCs a,sence in

!he 8 edi!i'n im)/ an! s"s)ec!ed i!s c'nc"si'ns "nderc"! i!? The ass"m)!i'n !ha! !he/ d'

is ,ehind !he ',ec!i'n !ha! sees an!Cs descri)!i'n as a @!/)e '+ m/!hic s)eech. This

acc"sa!i'n# h'e6er# i1n'res !he rea necessi!ies in6'9ed ,/ an!Cs acc'"n!. There seems !'

,e n' '!her a/ !' 1ras) a !em)'ra/ end"rin1 ',ec! !han !' dis!in1"ish !ime in i!s

m'men!s. S"ch dis!inc! m'men!s m"s! ,e 9e)! in mind as e )r'1ressi6e/ 6ie a 1i6en

',ec!. 8"! !his re="ires !ha! e a))rehend !he )as! im)ressi'na m'men!s as )as! and n'! as

ne im)ressi'ns. A !hese re="iremen!s )'in! !' !he re)r'd"c!i6e ac!. >i!h'"! i!# '"r

a))rehensi'n '+ !ime seems im)'ssi,e. This h'ds# e6en !h'"1h !he res"!s '+ !he

re)r'd"c!i6e ac! imi! '"r acc'"n! '+ i! !' !he ream '+ a))earance. In +ac!# !his imi!a!i'n

seems as necessar/ as !he ac! i!se+. >e are !h"s ead !' !he ass"m)!i'n !ha! in re#roduction

*e face t%e necessit! of an act t%at conceals itself.

In ma9in1 !his ass"m)!i'n# e m"s! dis!in1"ish !he n'na))earin1 s",ec! +r'm !he

a))earin1 'ne. The necessi!/ +'r !his n'"mena-)hen'mena dis!inc!i'n is# in +ac!# !he same

as !he necessi!/ !ha! dri6es "s !' )'si! !he se+-c'nceain1 re)r'd"c!i6e ac!. En1a1in1 in i!#

!he ac!"a# ac!in1 se+ d'es n'! "s! 1enera!e a))earance. Precise/ in !his ac!i'n# i! esca)es

a))earance. As s"ch# t%e acting self# 'r s",ec!#itself generates t%e distinction +et*een *%at

a##ears and *%at esca#es a##earance. N'# i+ i!s a))earance is !' ,e 1en"ine and n'! mere

i"si'n# !his se+ m"s! 1i6e i!se+ as 1r'"ndin1 !his dis!inc!i'n. This im)ies !ha!# in 1i6in1

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i!se+ in a))earance# i! m"s! 1i6e i!se+ as n'! ,ein1 a,e !' ,e 1i6en. I!s a))earin1 is !hr'"1h

re)r'd"c!i'n# !he ac! ,/ hich i! 1enera!es !ime. Th"s# !he im)ica!i'n is !ha! in 1enera!in1

!ime# i! m"s! )resen! i!se+ in i!s !em)'ra a))earances as not!em)'ra# i.e.# as esca)in1 !ime.

I+ e !a9e !hese s!a!emen!s n'! as s!a!emen!s '+ a )arad' as H"sser a))aren!/ did# ha!

is )'in!ed !' is a ne +'rm '+ 1i6in1# a 1i6in1 !ha! "anifests!he c'nceamen! '+ i!s 'ri1in.

&'rres)'ndin1/# !here is a ne +'rm '+ !he 1i6en# a ne )hen'mena )resence# !ha! is

indica!ed here. This is a )resence !ha! re+ers ,e/'nd i!se+ !' !he 'ri1in !ha! is n'! 1i6en.

The )hen'men'n I am )'in!in1 !' is ha! Derrida cas !he @!race. In his

descri)!i'n# @The !race is n'! a )resence# ,"! is ra!her !he sim"acr"m '+ a )resence !ha!

dis'ca!es# dis)aces and re+ers ,e/'nd i!se+. This re+erence !' ha! ies ,e/'nd i!se+ is

inheren! in i!. In +ac!# as Derrida immedia!e/ adds# @!he !race has# )r')er/ s)ea9in1# n'

)ace# +'r e++acemen! ,e'n1s !' !he 6er/ s!r"c!"re '+ !he !race. This is ,eca"se @... +r'm !he

s!ar!# e++acemen! c'ns!i!"!es !he !race as a !racema9es i! disa))ear in i!s a))earin1# ma9es

i! iss"e +'r!h +r'm i!se+ in i!s 6er/ )'si!i'n.(; Fr'm a an!ian )ers)ec!i6e# !em)'rai!/ is

!he @!race '+ !he s",ec!. I! is a @sim"acr"m '+ )resence ins'+ar as i! re6eas !he s",ec!

'n/ !' c'ncea i!. I!s re6eain1 !he s",ec! is 'ne i!h i!s re+errin1 ,e/'nd i!se+ !' !he

n'n!em)'ra se+ !he se+ as !he "nc'm,ined c'm,iner. F'r Derrida# !he !race mani+es!s

i!se+ as a !race in i!s ceaseess m'6emen!# in !he +ac! !ha! i! @disa))ears in i!s a))earin1# in

!he +ac! !ha! !his disa))earance is an iss"in1 +'r!h @+r'm i!se+ in i!s 6er/ )'si!i'n. Fr'm a

an!ian )ers)ec!i6e# a '+ !hese descri)!i'ns can ,e a))ied !' !ime in !he res!ess m'6emen!

'+ !he s"ccessi'n '+ i!s m'men!s. Each m'men! disa))ears in i!s a))earin1. This

disa))earance is !he iss"in1 +'r!h '+ a ne a))earance# a ne m'men! !ha! 'cc")ies !he

)'si!i'n '+ ,ein1 n'.

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A! !he 'ri1in '+ !his res!ess m'6emen! is !he se+-a++ec!i'n '+ c'nsci'"sness. I! is

c'nsci'"snessC !' i!se+ as a se+ !ha! cann'! ,e 1i6en. This 1i6in1 '+ i!se+ as not +eing a+le

to +e given'cc"rs !hr'"1h !he 1i6en !he m'men!ar/ a))earance referring +e!ond itself!' a

ne a))earance. Each ne a))earin1 is a mani+es!a!i'n '+ !he se+.27 The re+erence and

dis)acemen! '+ !his is a si1n '+ i!s inade="ac/ as an a))earance an inade="ac/ !ha! needs

!' ,e s"))emen!ed ,/ /e! an'!her a))earance. The s",ec!# !hen# 1i6es i!se+ as n'! ,ein1

a,e !' ,e 1i6en in !his c'ns!an! need +'r +"r!her a))earances. T' 1ras) !his )r'cess# !he

"nendin1 na!"re '+ !ime# !he inade="ac/ '+ i!s m'men!s as a))earances# and !he n'"mena

charac!er '+ !he se+ !ha! a++ec!s i!se+ m"s! a ,e !h'"1h! !'1e!her. >e d' s' hen e reai*e

!ha! n'!hin1 ess !ha! !he totalit! of ti"e'"d ,e an adeuate re#resentation'+ !he s",ec!

in i!s s!a!"s as !he 'ri1in '+ !ime.

Can we grasp such a totality? Can we think it together with the self that is its ground

to see why every moment demands a next? The endeavor requires its own chapter.

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CHAPTERII

THEALTERITYOFTIME

There is a cer!ain )arad'ica ="ai!/ in !he caim !ha! hen e !a9e !he se+ !' ,e !he

'ri1in '+ !ime# i!s mani+es!a!i'n re="ires !he h'e '+ !ime. >ha! is mean! ,/ s"ch a h'e?

I+ e mean !ime in i!s "nendin1 in+ini!/# !hen !he indi6id"a se+ d'es n'! c'rres)'nd !' i!.

Indi6id"a se6es d' n'! as! +'re6erB !he/ are ,'rn and !he/ die. H' c'"d 'ne '+ !hese

+ini!e se6es re="ire a '+ !ime !' mani+es! i!se+? I+# h'e6er# !he se+ re+erred !' is n'!

indi6id"a# h' are e !' "nders!and i!? S"ch ="es!i'ns indica!e !ha! !' cari+/ !his caim# e

need a dee)er insi1h! in!' !he se+h''d !ha! +"nc!i'ns as !he 1r'"nd '+ !ime. >e as' need a

1rea!er "nders!andin1 '+ !ime in i!s "nendin1 h'eness. T' 1ain !his# e sha c'nsider

an!Cs# H"sserCs# and Le6inasCs !h'"1h!s 'n !he in+ini!/ '+ !ime. I sha !hen 1i6e m/ 'n

6ies. M/ 1'a i ,e !' cari+/ !he na!"re '+ !his in+ini!/ and !he se+h''d !ha! c'rres)'nds

!' i!. The res"! i ,e a di++eren! sense '+ !he n'"mena ="ai!/ '+ !he se+. F'r an!# i! as

!he indi6id"a se+Cs )'si!i'n as !he 1r'"nd '+ !ime and hence '+ a))earance# !ha! made i!

n'na))earin1. The di6ide ,e!een !he a))earin1 and !he n'na))earin1 se+ !h"s de!ermined

+'r an! !he +"ndamen!a a!eri!/ 'r '!herness '+ se+h''d. The di6ide as i!hin !he

indi6id"a se+. >hen e 1ain a ne sense '+ se+h''d !ha! c'rres)'nds !' !ime# e i shi+!

!he meanin1 '+ !his a!eri!/. The ne di6ide i ,e ,e!een se+ and '!hers. A!eri!/ and

n'na))earin1 i !"rn '"! !' )er!ain )rimari/ !' '"r '!hers in !heir +"nc!i'nin1 as c'-

1r'"nders '+ !ime.

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Kants Account of the Wholeness of Time

>h/ d' e ha6e !' )'si! !he "nimi!ed h'eness '+ !ime? Is i! n'! )'ssi,e sim)/

!' res!ric! '"rse6es !' !hin9in1 '+ !ime in !erms '+ +ini!e s!re!ches? an!Cs anser !' !hese

="es!i'ns in !he Critiueis ,rie+ en'"1h. In his @Me!a)h/sica E)'si!i'n '+ !he &'nce)! '+

Time# he ri!es: @The in+ini!"de '+ !ime si1ni+ies n'!hin1 m're !han !ha! e6er/ de!ermina!e

ma1ni!"de '+ !ime is )'ssi,e 'n/ !hr'"1h !he imi!a!i'ns '+ 'ne sin1e !ime !ha! "nderies i!.

The 'ri1ina )resen!a!i'n# ti"e# m"s! !here+'re ,e 1i6en as "nimi!ed Kdr/# 8$5-BAk. III#

%. >e can "nders!and !he )'in! an! is ma9in1 ,/ ana/*in1 !he idea '+ s'me!hin1 ,ein1

in !ime. F'r s'me!hin1 !' ,e @in !ime# i! m"s! ha6e !ime s"rr'"ndin1 i!. A !em)'ra

ma1ni!"de m"s!# !here+'re# ,e s"rr'"nded ,/ !em)'ra ma1ni!"des. 8"!# !hese# !' ,e @in

!ime# as' re="ire s"rr'"ndin1 !em)'ra ma1ni!"des. The same h'ds +'r !heir s"rr'"ndin1

ma1ni!"des and s' 'n inde+ini!e/. >e !h"s ha6e a chain '+ de)endencies here !he

)'ssi,ii!/ '+ an/ de!ermina!e ma1ni!"de '+ !ime is "!ima!e/ de)enden! 'n a !he

ma1ni!"des s"rr'"ndin1 i!. Th"s# !he a!!er m"s! ,e )'ssi,e +'r !he +'rmer !' ,e )'ssi,e.

The !'!ai!/ '+ s"ch ma1ni!"des is# h'e6er# !he in+ini!/ '+ !ime# i.e.# !ime in i!s "nendin1

h'eness. This means !ha! !he )'ssi,ii!/ '+ an/ de!ermina!e ma1ni!"de '+ !ime is

"!ima!e/ de)enden! 'n !ha! '+ !he h'e '+ !ime# !he )ar! ,ein1 necessari/ re)resen!ed as a

imi!a!i'n '+ !he "nimi!ed h'e. In '!her 'rds# @e6er/ de!ermina!e ma1ni!"de '+ !ime is#

="a imi!ed# de)enden!B ,"! !he @'ne sin1e !ime !ha! "nderies i!# "nders!''d as "nimi!ed# is

inde)enden!. I!s inde)endence +''s since !here is# ,/ de+ini!i'n# n' !ime '"!side '+ !he

h'eness '+ !ime 'n hich s"ch h'eness c'"d de)end.

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>i!h !his# e ha6e !' +"r!her charac!eri*a!i'ns '+ !he h'e '+ !ime. Since !here is

n' !ime '"!side '+ !he sin1e !ime !ha! ma9es ") !he !'!ai!/ '+ i!s in!erde)enden! m'men!s#

e ha6e !' sa/ !ha! @!ime ... is "nchan1in1 and a,idin1. T' sa/ !ha! i! a,ides means !ha!

@!ime d'es n'! +' aa/ verluft sic% nic%t. The )'in! +''s ana/!ica/ since !here is

n' @!ime '"!side '+ !his !'!ai!/ '+ in!erde)enden! !em)'ra ma1ni!"des in!' hich i! c'"d

+' Kdr/# 8 (0BAk. III# (05. N'# i+ e as9 ha! s'r! '+ h'e !his !'!ai!/ is# e +ind

!ha! i! is n'! "s! a @sin1e !ime# i! is as' "ni="e. In '!her 'rds# !he h'e '+ !ime can ,e

charac!eri*ed as a @"ni="e sin1"ar. N'n-"ni="e sin1"ars eis! as 'ne '+ man/ simiar

!hin1s. F'r eam)e# 1i6en !ha! !here are man/ h"mans# e6er/ h"man ,ein1 is a n'n-"ni="e

sin1"ar ins'+ar as !here are '!her indi6id"as !ha! share !he charac!eris!ics !ha! de+ine

h"mani!/. 8/ c'n!ras!# a "ni="e sin1"ar eis!ssi"#l! as one. I! is !he 'n/ eam)e '+ i!s

9ind. This charac!eri*a!i'n a))ies !' !he h'eness '+ !ime# since# ,/ de+ini!i'n# !here is n'

!ime '"!side '+ i!.

H' d'es !his @me!a)h/sica e)'si!i'n '+ !he c'nce)! '+ !ime +i! in i!h an!Cs

@!ranscenden!a e)'si!i'n '+ !he c'nce)!? The a!!er !a9es !ime as a c'ndi!i'n +'r !he

)'ssi,ii!/ '+ e)erience. &'ncre!e/# i! sends "s ,ac9 !' !he @I re)r'd"ce# !he ac! ,/ hich

e ma9e e)erience )'ssi,e ,/ re)r'd"cin1 and# hence )reser6in1# !he im)ressi'ns e ha6e

'+ !he ',ec! s' as !' 1ain a @c'm)e!e )resen!a!i'n '+ i!. The in9 !ha! an! dras ,e!een

!he !' e)'si!i'ns is se! in !he c'n!e! '+ his ar1"men! !ha! !ime @is n'! an em)irica c'nce)!

!ha! has ,een deri6ed +r'm e)erience Kdr/# 8$4BAk. III# %5. >ere !ime s"ch a c'nce)!#

!hen# ha6in1 ,een dran +r'm '"r e)erience '+ ',ec!s# i! '"d )er!ain !' !hem. This#

h'e6er# '"d in6aida!e !he @!ranscenden!a e)'si!i'n '+ !ime# +'r !he a!!er !a9es !ime as

)er!ainin1 n'! !' s"ch ',ec!s# ,"! ra!her !' ha! *ed' !' ma9e '"r e)erience '+ !hem

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)'ssi,e. an!Cs ar1"men! a1ains! !ime ,ein1 a c'nce)! !a9es !he +'rm '+ a reductio ad

a+surdu". I+ !ime ere an em)irica c'nce)!# !his '"d im)/ !ha! +irs! e '"d

e)erience ',ec!s and !hen# as a 1enerai*a!i'n '+ !heir c'mm'n +ea!"res# e '"d ',!ain

!he c'nce)! '+ !ime. Since !ime in6'6es s"ch !hin1s as c'eis!ence and s"ccessi'n# !his

'"d im)/ !ha! e c'"d +irs! e)erience ',ec!s i!h'"! a))rehendin1 !heir c'eis!ence

and s"ccessi'n. This# h'e6er# is im)'ssi,e. In an!Cs 'rds# @On/ 'n !he )res"))'si!i'n

'+ !ime can e )resen! !' '"rse6es a n"m,er '+ !hin1s as eis!in1 a! 'ne and !he same !ime

sim"!ane'"s/ 'r di++eren! !imes s"ccessi6e/ i,id..

I+ !ime is n'! a c'nce)!# ha! is i!? an!Cs anser is !ha! i! m"s! ,e !he ',ec! '+ an

in!"i!i'n. A c'nce)!# as c'mm'n !' man/ ',ec!s# has !he s!a!"s '+ a 'ne-in-man/. I! is

1ras)ed !hr'"1h a,s!rac!i'n. Sin1e ',ec!s# ,/ c'n!ras!# are a))rehended !hr'"1h in!"i!i'n.

>i!h !his# e ha6e !he in9 !' !he me!a)h/sica e)'si!i'n '+ @!he 'ne sin1e !ime !ha!

"nderies a +ini!e !imes. an! insis!s 'n !he sin1"ar na!"re '+ !ime ,eca"se# as he n'!es#

@!he )resen!a!i'n hich can ,e 1i6en 'n/ !hr'"1h a sin1e ',ec! is in!"i!i'n and n'!

c'nce)!"ai*a!i'n Kdr/# 8$5BAk. III# %. In '!her 'rds# 'n/ i+ !ime is immedia!e/

a))rehended ,/ in!"i!i'n can he c'm)e!e his ar1"men! !ha! !ime is n'! an em)irica c'nce)!

and hence n'! dran +r'm em)irica e)erience. N'# i+ e as9 ha! e d' see hen e

in!"i! !ime# an!Cs anser is !ha! '"r ',ec! is n' de+ini!e !hin1# ,"! ra!her !he sin1"ar +'rm

'r s!r"c!"re '+ in!"i!i'n i!se+. The a/ e in!"i! and )'si! ',ec!s is !hr'"1h )reser6in1

!he im)ressi'ns e ha6e '+ !hem. The m'de '+ s"ch )reser6a!i'n is !ha! '+ '"r se+-a++ec!i'n.

In an!Cs 'rds# @Since !his +'rm '+ in!"i!i'n d'es n'! re)resen! an/!hin1 sa6e ins'+ar as

s'me!hin1 is )'si!ed in !he mind# i! can ,e n'!hin1 ,"! !he m'de in hich !he mind is

a++ec!ed !hr'"1h i!s 'n ac!i6i!/ name/# !hr'"1h !his )'si!in1 '+ i!s )resen!a!i'n# and s' is

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a++ec!ed ,/ i!se+ Kdr/# 845-BAk. III# 57. This se+-a++ec!i'n is# !hen# !he mindCs ,ein1

a++ec!ed ,/ i!s ac!i6i!/ '+ )'si!in1 !he )resen!a!i'n '+ s'me!hin1. As !he as! cha)!er sh'ed#

!he ac!i6i!/ in ="es!i'n is !ha! '+ !he @I re)r'd"ce. Th"s# !' )'si! a c'm)e!e )resen!a!i'n '+

s'me ',ec!# each s"ccessi6e im)ressi'n I ha6e '+ i! is )reser6ed ,/ ,ein1 re)r'd"cedB !hese

s"ccessi6e re)r'd"c!i'n are# in !"rn# )reser6ed ,/ ,ein1 re)r'd"ced# and s' 'n. In

re)r'd"cin1 !he re)r'd"c!i'ns# I re)r'd"ce !he res"!s '+ m/ ac!i6i!/ !he ac!i6i!/ '+ !he @I

re)r'd"ce. M/ ,ein1 a++ec!ed ,/ !hese re)r'd"c!i'ns is# !hen# m/ ,ein1 a++ec!ed ,/ !his

ac!i6i!/. I! is a se+-a++ec!i'n. I e)erience !his in !he c'-)resence '+ !he re)r'd"ced

m'men!s !ha! ma9e ") !he @c'm)e!e )resen!a!i'n '+ ha! I am re)resen!in1. In!"i!in1 s"ch

m'men!s# "nders!''d as !he res"!s '+ m/ ac!i6i!/# I in!"i! !ime. In!"i!in1 !heir rea!i'ns# i.e.#

!heir c'eis!ence and s"ccessi'n# I in!"i! !he +'rm '+ !ime !a9en as a +'rm '+ in!"i!i'n.

The connection just made between the metaphysical and the transcendental exposition

of time, while ingenious, still leaves the exact nature of their relation problematical. Granted

that the singularity of time implies that our access to it is through intuition and not

conceptualization, it is still not clear how the mode of self-affection we do intuit relates to

such singularity. Metaphysically regarded, time is the uniquely singular whole of

interdependent magnitudes. It never runs out. Transcendentally regarded, it is the result of

the I reproduce. But the I reproduce is not unending. As the act of limited subject, it is

finite. This point can be expressed in terms of the fact that the I reproduce is not a

sufficient conditionfor the generation of time. The act reproduces impressions with their

nowness. It does not, however, generate them. A transcendent affection is required. This

provides the impressions that the individual preserves by reproducing them. The death and

dissolution of the individual, however, seems to be the end of all such impressions. Thus,

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unless an individual self were linked to those whose lives extended beyond its own,

temporalization would seem to stop with it. In other words, only if the individual

temporalizations of an ongoing succession of subjects were connected could we talk about an

unbroken whole of interconnected time.

Primal Nowness and Temporalization

Husserl, in the last years of his life, may be seen as attempting just such a linking of

the time-constituting self to its others. In the late manuscripts from the 1930s, he expresses

the connection of their temporalizations through a double claim. On the one hand, he asserts,

I am. It is from me that time is constituted (Ms. C I, Sept. 22-23, 1934; Husserl 1973a, p.

667). Temporalization is here regarded as the function of the individual. On the other, he

also claims that the origin of temporalization is pre-egological. In his words,

temporalization possesses its layers ... the layers beneath the ego (unterichliche

Schichte) and the egological layers (Ms. B II 9, Oct.-Dec. 1931, p. 10). As he also puts

this, first there is the primal being, the inherently self-temporalizing absolute ... then the

primal being as [an] ego ... (Ms. C 5, 1931, p. 5a). The two claims fit together because, in

Husserls view, each ego constitutes time by being in coincidence with the pre-egological

origin of temporalization. The latter is the self-temporalizing absolute. Husserl describes

its relation to the monadsi.e., the time-constituting egosby writing:

The a,s'"!e is n'!hin1 '!her !han a,s'"!e !em)'rai*a!i'nB and e6en i!s

in!er)re!a!i'n as !he a,s'"!e hich I direc!/ enc'"n!er as m/ s!a!i'nar/ s!reamin1

)rim'rdiai!/ is a !em)'rai*a!i'n# a !em)'rai*a!i'n '+ !his in!' s'me!hin1 )rima/

eis!in1 2ur 3rseienden. There+'re# !he a,s'"!e !'!ai!/ '+ m'nadsi.e.# !he

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)rim'rdiai!/ '+ a !he m'nads all"onadisc%e 3rt0"lic%keit'n/ eis!s ,/ 6ir!"e

'+ !em)'rai*a!i'n Ms. & IB H"sser (;50a.# ). 457.

The @s!a!i'nar/ s!reamin1 )rim'rdiai!/ !ha! !his )assa1e re+ers !' is m/ ,ein1 in i!s

n'ness. S"ch n'ness is s!a!i'nar/ since# +r'm m/ )ers)ec!i6e# i! is aa/s n' +'r me. I

ac! 'n/ in !he n'B and i! is +r'm m/ cen!ra n'ness !ha! I 6ie ,'!h !he )as! and !he

+"!"re. M/ )rim'rdiai!/ is as' descri,ed as @s!reamin1 ,eca"se# in i!s remainin1 n'# i!s

)'si!i'n c'ns!an!/ shi+!s i!h re1ard !' !he m'men!s !ha! ad6ance +r'm !he +"!"re and de)ar!

in!' )as!ness. 3ieed +r'm !heir )ers)ec!i6e# m/ n' is e6er ne# e6er 'cc")/in1 a di++eren!

)'si!i'n in !he series '+ indi6id"a m'men!s as each s"ccessi6e/ ,ec'mes n'. Th"s# !he

n'# hich +r'm m/ )ers)ec!i6e is re1arded as s!a!i'nar/# can as' ,e descri,ed as s!reamin1

+r'm !he )ers)ec!i6e '+ s"ch m'men!s. H"sser in !his )assa1e is asser!in1 !ha! !his

s!a!i'nar/ s!reamin1 n'ness# ins'+ar as i! can ,e caed mine# is ac!"a/ a +"nc!i'n '+ an

@a,s'"!e !em)'rai*a!i'n. I! is# in '!her 'rds# 'n/ ,eca"se '+ !he a!!er !ha! I can s)ea9 '+

m/se+ and# hence# '+ m/ !em)'rai*a!i'n as s'me!hin1 @)rima/ eis!in1. The same )'in!

h'ds +'r !he !'!ai!/ '+ m'nads. Each# in H"sserCs 'rds# can sa/# @I am. I! is +r'm me !ha!

!ime is c'ns!i!"!ed# 'n/ ,eca"se each# )re-e1''1ica/# shares in !his a,s'"!e.

>ha! e a share in is# acc'rdin1 !' H"sser# a @)rima )resen!. He ri!es# @>e can#

!here+'re# s)ea9 '+ asingle, stationar!, #ri"al alivenessLe+endigkeit!ha! '+ !he )rima

)resen! hich is not a "odalit! of ti"e. >e can s)ea9 '+ i! as !he ai6eness '+ !he !'!ai!/ '+

m'nads. The a,s'"!e i!se+ is !his "ni6ersa# )rim'rdia )resen!. >i!hin i! ieC a !ime and

'rd in e6er/ sense Ms. & IB H"sser (;50a# ). 44. T' rea!e !his )rima )resen! !' !he

ac!i'n '+ !he e1' !ha! d'es !em)'rai*e# e ha6e !' n'!e !ha! !he ',ec! '+ !he @I re)r'd"ce is

n'! "s! !he im)ressi'n. It is t%e no*ness t%at is t%e i"#ressions #ri"al or original #resence.

This is !he n'ness I 'cc")/ as I recei6e m/ im)ressi'ns. I! is n'! !he n'ness !ha! de)ar!s

i!h !he m'men!# ,"! ra!her 'ne !ha! c'ns!an!/ remains. As )ri'r !' !he m"!i)ici!/ '+

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m'men!s# !his s!a!i'nar/ n'ness is ,'!h sin1"ar and "ni="e. I! ,ec'mes m"!i)e hen I

1enera!e !he )as! !hr'"1h re)r'd"cin1 i!. The re)r'd"c!i6e ac! in 1enera!in1 !he )as! 1i6es

!his n'ness !he a))earance '+ s!reamin1. Thr'"1h m/ i!era!i6e re)r'd"c!i'n '+ !he n'ness

'+ im)ressi'ns ha! H"sser cas m/ re!en!i'n '+ m/ re!en!i'ns '+ !his n'ness# !he

re)r'd"ced 'r re!ained n'ness ,ec'me increasin1/ )as!.2( As a res"!# !he )rima

n'ness a))ears !' shi+! i!s )'si!i'n in !he 'rder '+ !ime# !h"s ma9in1 i! seem !' ,e a

s!a!i'nar/ s!reamin1. In i!se+# h'e6er# i! remains s!a!i'nar/. I! remains# ha! H"sser in !he

La!in cas !he @nunc stansi!era/# !he s!a!i'nar/ n'.

To uncover this stationary now, we have to perform a variant of the

phenomenological reduction. In the reduction, we suspend or bracket the connections of

experience through which we posit something and regard the underlying experiences

themselves. To take a simple example, we posit a three-dimensional object when our

experiences of it are connected in perspectival seriesi.e., the series that allows us to see

first one side and then another of the object. When we bracket these connections, we regard

simply the underlying experiences that have been so ordered. Husserl calls the variant of

this that uncovers the ground of temporalization a reduction within the transcendental

reduction.22 This reduction suspends the connections that give us the fixed order of time

i.e., those obtaining between our retentions and anticipations of the primal nowness of our

impressions. When we no longer posit this fixed order, the primal nowness underlying

appears by itself. As Husserl describes this result, The regressive inquiry, which begins

with the epoch leads to the nunc stans, the stationary present. Properly speaking, the

word present is unsuitable in this context insofar as it already indicates a modality of time

(Ms. C 7 I, June-July 1932, pp. 30-1). Husserls point here is that when we view this

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stationary present in itself by abstracting it from the temporal constitution it grounds, then it

cannot be a modality of time. This follows since, so considered, it is not yet in time.

When we do relate the nunc stansto the context of the constituted moments, it can be

described as a living streaming present. Husserl also calls it subjectivity. He writes, for

example,

The reduction to the living present is the most radicalized reduction to that

subjectivity in which everything is accomplished which is valid for mei.e., to that

subjectivity in which all ontological sense (Seinssinn) is sense for me as

experientially apprehended, obtaining sense. It is a reduction to the sphere of primal

temporalization in which the first and originary (urquellenmssige) sense of time

comes forwardtime as the living, streaming present. All further temporalitybe it

subjective or objective, whatever be the sense which these words might take on

receives its ontological sense and validity from this present (Ms. C 3 I, 1930, p. 4a).

One reason for Husserls calling the living present subjectivity is that it is, as we earlier

cited him, the aliveness of the totality of monads. Each of us is an actor of the nunc stans

insofar as we act only in the now.23 All constitutioni.e., all activity that results in the

presentation of objectsdepends on primal or original nowness. It must begin with the

nowness of impressions, since this is what it retains (or reproduces) when it presents us with

enduring objects. Thus, the living present is called subjectivity insofar as it is at the core of

our subjective life.

Because it is prior to the multiplicity of moments, this presents nowness, considered

in itself, is uniquely singular. Prior even to the temporalization that allows me to regard

myself as a distinct individual, it cannot even be claimed as mine. As Husserl puts this,

When, in self-meditation, I return to my living present in its full concreteness, the living

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present as the primal ground and source of everything which presently and actually obtains

for me as a being, then I find that this present is not mine as opposed to that of other human

beings (Ms. C 3 I, p. 3b). In fact, what this present expresses is my coincidence with Others

in Husserls words, my coincidence (Deckung) with others on the original level of

constitution, my coincidence, so to speak, before there is constituted a world for myself and

others (Ms. C 17 V, 1931, p. 84a). Since this coincidence obtains beforethe constitution of

the world with its objects and others, it implies a lack of distancebetween self and others.

Once constitution begins, everything, Husserl writes, has a unity of appearance [and hence]

a temporal unity, a duration. This, however, does not apply to the ego pole, understood as

the primal nowness out of which each ego acts. This means, Husserl concludes, that the ego

as a pole does not endure. Therefore, also my ego and the other ego do not have any

extensive distance in the community of our being with each other. But also my life, my

temporalization, has no distance from that of the Other.24 If we accept this conclusion, then

what the temporal reduction actually uncovers is the underlying unity of world-constitution.

In Husserls words, it discovers that everything is one. Performing it, we see the the

absolute in its unity: the unity of an absolute self-temporalization, the absolute in its

temporal modalities temporalizing itself in the absolute stream, the stationary aliveness of

the primal present, of the absolute in its unitythe unity of everything!which in itself

temporalizes and has temporalized everything that is anything (Ms. C I, Sept. 21-22, 1934;

Husserl 1973a, p. 669).

Husserl asserts that the human totality of monads is one of the levels of the

absolute (ibid.). How is this claim to be understood? If individuals, as opposed to mere

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ego poles, exist in the apartness of time, i.e., in the time that has distinct moments, how

can we understand this apartness in terms of the nowness in which they are coincident?

What role does their coincidence play when the absolute manifests itself in the different

moments of time? Husserl, in the manuscripts we have been considering, gives no precise

answers to these questions. We can, however, speculate on a possible Husserlian response

one which also has a certain Levinasian cast. To begin with, we can say that if the other with

whom I am in coincidence is not to be totally merged into me, there must exist a certain

alterity in the primal present. This implies that in the primal nowness of our pretemporal

coincidence, he is present as alterity: he is present in my primal nowness as a now that is

implicitly other. What is implicit becomes manifest when this nowness is exhibited in the

successive moments of time. At this point, the now that is in the primal now as other

becomes explicit as the next successive now. Thus, my reproducing this original now

reproduces its pretemporal alterity insofar as it presents such nowness as a moment that

cannot be the last. In other words, the alterity of our pre-temporal coincidence manifests

itself in the sense that every individual moment that is fixed through the reproductive (or

retentional) act demands yet another such moment.

To understand this solution, several points need to be made. The first is that it takes

no notice of space. It thus does not consider the simultaneity of nows since, for this, one

needs to distinguish nows through their different spatial locations. Its focus is on alterity

simply on a purely temporal level. This is the alterity that is manifested in the apartness of

successive time. To speak of contemporaneous nows, we have to consider not just the

nowness of our impressions, but also their sensuous contents. When these contents form a

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perspectival series, we experience space in its three dimensional character. It is at this point

that we can speak of simultaneous nows of occurrences in different locations and, hence, of

simultaneously existing subjects. Our second point is that the alterity implicit in the primal

present can only be manifested by the totality of successive time. The point follows because

such alterity prevents any reproduction of this present from being the last.

Husserl, in the passage quoted above, speaks of the absolute human totality of

monads as a level of the absolute. In the absolute, understood as primal nowness, this

totality appears as the coincidence of nows. In the successive temporality that manifests this

coincidence, the totality of monads appears as the totality of subjects that temporalize by

reproducing this primal nowness. Since each subject has recourse to the same nowness, their

temporalizations are connected. Because of this, such

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Mensch - Hiddenness and Alterity