Human Nature: From Kierkegaard to Sartre
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about Kierkegaard's views of the self and human nature, including such concepts as "present age," "spiritlessness," passionate commitment," and the "aesthetic sphere." He then discusses Heidegger and Sartre, both of ...
Inner Self and External World
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about the views of multiple philosophers concerning how the inner self encounters the every day reality of the external world.
How Do We Encounter Reality?
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about the intriguing professional relationship between Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger. Although Husserl was Heidegger's mentor, the younger Heidegger was as much an influence on Husserl's philosophical beliefs a...
How Do We Encounter the World: Phenomenology
The philosophical tradition that attempts to describe the world and the way we experience it without relying on abstract theories is called phenomenology. The term took on new significance with German philosopher Edmund Husserl whose work focused o...
Merleau-Ponty and the Intentional Arc
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about 20th century philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty and his concept "the intentional arch." Stemming from Merleau-Ponty's focus on perception as a major component of understanding the world, the intentional arch is ...
Knowledge
Philosopher Charles Taylor talks about different understandings of knowledge, beginning with Descartes, who believed that knowledge is inner representation of outer reality.
Meaning in Life: From Heidegger to Dostoyevsky
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about different ways of explaining meaning in life, as reflected in the writings of philosophers Martin Heidegger and Maurice Merleau-Ponty, as well as author Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Being and Nothingness: Jean Paul Sartre
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus talks about Jean-Paul Sartre, who views all human activity as a way of trying to cover up our nothingness and delude ourselves into thinking that we have an identity, content and meaning in our lives.
Getting in Contact with Reality
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus contrasts differing views of reality and how we encounter it, as expressed by Martin Heidegger and Jean Paul-Sartre. He points out that where Heidegger sees meaning--as in objects in the environment--Sartre sees meaningles...
Heidegger and Kierkegaard
Philosopher Hubert Dreyfus contrasts the ways in which Martin Heidegger and Soren Kierkegaard answer the question what it is to be a self. For Heidegger, according to Professor Dreyfus, who you are is the social role that you've chosen or grown up i...