Have you heard of a phenomenological summer camp?

March 24, 2009 8:23 PM

A while ago I read an article about former students of Husserl who went to the US during WWII. There was mention of what was described as a phenomenological "summer camp," where these former students would come together and "describe things." I'm looking for more info about this and, if possible, to read some of the texts that came out of this.

This is what else I remember: Most if not all of these former students of Husserl were university professors. The camp was in the US. This happened during the 50s and 60s.

posted by Kattullus to religion & philosophy (7 comments total)

Oh, I'm not necessarily looking for the original article, which didn't devote much space to this, but it would be good to find it if only because it would have more information that I've forgotten. Oh, and the "summer camp" was for professors, not kids, though I think that some students did get invited to participate.
posted by Kattullus at 8:27 PM on March 24

If I'm not terribly mistaken this was described in one of the studies in Phenomenology and the Theological Turn: The French Debate, D. Janicaud ed. You might be able to get a cite there, I'm not sure - it's been years since I read it, and I don't have the book handy, but I do remember that episode.


(Unless I'm remembering a totally different book)
posted by eclectist at 10:12 PM on March 24

You could contact the Husserl archive, if you're really interested in tracking this down. Link. Even if they don't have any of the papers, Professor Dodd can probably point you to those who do. Maybe too obvious to be helpful?
posted by felix grundy at 8:34 AM on March 25

Not at all too obvious, felix grundy, as I hadn't thought of it at all. I was so focused on trying to find the names of these former students or the article I read it in that I never thought of actually asking Husserl experts.
posted by Kattullus at 9:27 AM on March 25

I studied phenomenology briefly with Edward Casey, and I believe he mentioned he was part of this. If I'm not mistaken, Robert Sokolowski was the one who led it. However, it's also possible it was Herbert Spiegelberg who led it, as I confess I get Sokolowski and Spiegelberg mixed up sometimes.

Several of of Husserl's students wound up in the states, but the more prominent ones (Gurwitsch, Schutz) would likely not have participated. Good luck.
posted by ornate insect at 5:40 PM on March 25

The Spiegelberg wiki link in my previous post should nail this for you:

"In 1963, he relocated to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and remained there until his retirement as Emeritus Professor in 1971...
Spiegelberg conducted five influential workshops in phenomenology, during the summers of 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1972. The first workshop was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation and the second by a grant from the Monsanto Corporation."

I'm almost positive these are the workshops you are referring to, and they were held in St. Louis on the campus of Washington University.
posted by ornate insect at 5:51 PM on March 25

Yup! One of the things I vaguely remembered was that it took place in Missouri. You've nailed it. Now if I can only find some of what they wrote. Eerily enough the only thing in the Washington University Spiegelberg Collection only contains two photographs of a concentration camp. I guess I'll have to look elsewhere. Maybe Professor Dodd knows.
posted by Kattullus at 8:05 PM on March 25