Letter from Edmund Husserl written 02.12.1929

Author Edmund Husserl

Category foreign researchers, incoming correspondence

Archive The Library of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences

Date of creation 2.12.1929

Reference code in archive Biblioteka PAU

Resource type letter

Subject matter academic issues, personal issues, publication issues

Field phenomenology, philosophy

Tags #academic publications, #academic work, #Cartesian Meditations, #categorical modes of being, #commemorative publication, #correspondence, #Edmund Husserl, #Formal and Transcendental Logic, #formal theory of knowledge, #Husserl about Heidegger, #Husserl about Ingarden, #Husserl's students, #idealism, #Jean Hering, #judgment theory, #logic, #logical writing, #Martin Heidegger, #phenomenological system, #phenomenology, #Seinsmodi, #study of Heidegger

Freiburg, 2.XII.1929

Dear Friend,

I am very much indebted to you. This is how I treat the best and most loyal of my old students – besides whom only Jean Hering is as close to me as you are. But you have no idea how fast time goes by when I am fervently immersed in my work, months as well as days! On the one hand, I have not written sooner because I wanted to tell you a lot about your commemorative contribution. But expanding on it and discussing our philosophical differences is not easy, since a few sentences can be of little use. Your work is perhaps the most beautiful and important one included in this volume. It is extremely well-written. I was very happy about this superior solidity and the precision of the distinctions. You may understand the reason why I cannot accept you placing the ontolog[ical] before the intentional-phenomenological (in which “idealism” originates), by reading the second part of the F[ormal] and Tr[anscendental] Logic42. Unfortunately, the translator who is working on the Cartes[ian] Med[itations] is taking a long time (or she is too busy). Had the French text already been printed as planned, you would more clearly recognize the basics of my ph[enomenological] methodology and system.

I am very pleased that my log[ical] writing speaks to you. It was written and printed within a few months in one go and after decades of pondering these issues. I am curious how you will receive the entire work, especially the second pa[rt], including the important supplements. The new logical book, an originally arising judgment-theory or even better: a “formal” theory of knowledge – a syst[ematic] structure of the categorical modes of being from the original sources of evidence – still torments me tremendously; things are so far behind me! (Taking the main manuscript from Göttingen of 1908-11 to the philosophically matured level of 1929!)

Currently, I am tired and looking forward to taking a much-needed break. [You asked about] the detailed “study of Heidegger”? I came to the conclusion that, unfortunately, I cannot place the work within the scope of my phen[omenology], and sadly, I also have to reject it methodically as well as factually in its entirety.43 All the more, I attach great importance to the complete structuring of the G[erman] edition of the Cart[esian] Med[itations] in addition to my systematic “Main Work.” Hopefully, it will be completed at the end of the year of 1930, followed by concretely explained works – all of which have been prepared in abundance. I have not yet received an invitation from Oxford. The fact that you are sharing your new book certainly has its disadvantages in addition to its practical advantages: writing a whole book is always the most impressive.

Finally, congratulations on your freer life and work. When will I see you again? Please send my regards to your wife.

Cordially yours,

E. Husserl