Abstract
This thesis is concerned with Husserl’s historical understanding of phenomenology in his last work, The Crisis of European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology (1937). In chapter 1, we examine David Carr’s account of the historical turn of Husserlian phenomenology. The idea of the historical turn of phenomenology is inaccurate. The transcendental theory of history represents the necessary outcome of Husserl’s philosophy. In chapter 2, we examine the manner by which Husserlian phenomenology is supposed to re-establish European cultural identity. Husserl, through his criticism of the objectivistic prejudice of modern science, claims that phenomenology represents the teleological accomplishment of philosophy. We finally examine Husserl’s attempt to reunite the Modern schism between thought and action. We conclude that Husserl’s main ethical principle, the notion of authenticity, is in itself insufficient to explain the implications of responsibility.