Notes on conversation with Husserl, 18/7/31

pp. 5-7

in: Dorion Cairns, Conversations with Husserl and Fink, The Hague, Nijhoff, 1976

Abstract

I began by stating that I was not clear about the nature of kinaesthesis, and this started Husserl on an analysis of perception, much of which was familiar. To the perception of a physical object there is necessary not only the constitution of a certain Einstimmigkeit 〈harmony, accord, accordance, agreement〉 in the Verlauf 〈course, flow〉 of Empfindungen 〈sensations〉, but also a correlated kinaesthetic structure. Along with the sphere of ursprünglicher Passivität 〈originary, primitive passivity〉 there is not only a sphere of Aktivität 〈activity〉 but also a sphere of secondary Passivität 〈passivity〉. The latter term indicates what necessarily follows of itself once we have actively brought about a certain situation. E. g., once I have turned toward perceiving an object a certain sort of Verlauf findet notwendig statt 〈course (or flow) necessarily occurs〉. Really it is a Wesenszusammenhang 〈essential interconnection〉.