The Problem of Finitude in Phenomenology

Abstract

The problem of history and, more precisely, the historicity of history constitutes one of the greatest stumbling blocks for phenomenology and phenomenological philosophy. If one confines oneself to the criticisms levelled against Husserlian phenomenology by Martin Heidegger, those concepts developed as a result all operate in a dialogue with historicity. Perhaps the first step beyond Husserl arrives with the concept of 'facticity,' a concept which recognises the essential temporality or historicity of the ego – that being which attempts to enact the phenomenological epoche.