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Birth
On April 8, 1859, Edmund Gustav Albrecht Husserl was born in Prossnitz, Moravia of the Austrian Empire, now known as Prostĕjov, of the Czech Republic. Both is parents were non-orthodox Jews. He was one of three children, one of which died during the World War.
[Life and Work of Edmund Husserl]https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/husserl/#LifWor) -
Studies
During 1876-1878, Husserl studied Astronomy in Leipzig. He attended lectures in astronomy, mathematics, physics and philosophy. Husserl's mentor was Thomas Masaryk. Masaryk was a former student Brentano's, Masaryk would later become the first president of Czechoslovakia. From 1878-1881, Husserl would continue his studies in Berlin.
Life and work of Edmund Husserl -
Continued Studies and PhD
His studies continued in Berlin where he learned from instructors Leopold Kronecker and Karl Weierstrass, which Husserl was impress with their scientific ethos.He received his PhD in Vienna for his these on variations. He then became Weierstrass's assistant back in Berlin until Weierstrass fell ill. His mentor Masaryk suggested he move back to Vienna in order to study philosophy with Franz Brentano. He studied with Brentano from 1884-1886 after a brief military service. -
Dissertation "On the Concept of Number"
After studying from Brentano, Brentano introduced Husserl to Carl Stumpf. This prepared Husserl to write and submit his dissertation "On the Concept of Number" in 1887. Which would further Husserl to publish his first monograph "Philosophy of Arithmetic" in 1891. In this monograph, Husserl combined mathematical, psychological and philosophical competencies to attempt a psychological foundation of arithmetic.
Life and Work of Edmund Husserl -
Phenomenology
After his monograph was released, his book was criticized for psychologism, which upset Husserl. This spurred Husserl to attack psychologism which developed the philosophical method of Phenomenology, which is what Husserl is known for today.
His first work of Phenomenology came when he published a two volume set titled "Logical Investigations". -
Associate Professorship
Thanks to his work on "Logical Investigations" as well as support from Wilhelm Dilthey (whome recommended Husserl to the Prussian Ministry of Culture), Husserl received an Associate Professorship.
(https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/husserl/#LifWor) -
"Logical Investigations"
"Logical Investigations" had two volumes. The first volume was his attack on psychologism and the second held six "descriptive-psychological" and "epistemological" investigations. Those six investigations included expressions and meanings, universals, the form of ontology on parts and holes (meteorology), the syntactical and meteorological structure of meaning, the nature and structure of intentionality, and lastly the interrelation of truth, intuition and cognition. -
Transcendental Phenomenology
Husserl refined and modified his methods into what he called "transcendental phenomenology". This method focuses on natural attitude which are characteristics of everyday life and science in order to constitute themselves in our consciousness. Husserl was influenced by Descartes, Hume and Kant.
Life and Work of Edmund Husserl -
Co-Editor of Logos
From 1910-1911 and 1913 in Göttingen, Husserl was the co-editor of "Logos". During this time his articles, "Philosophy as a Rigorous Science", "Yearbook for Phenomenology and Phenomenological Research", "Ideas Pertaining to a Pure Phenomenology and to a Phenomenological Philosophy" were published.
Life and Work of Edmund Husserl -
"Ideas:
"Ideas" is Husserl's second major book. In it Husserl explains his perspective on the realm of intentional consciousness and how it should enable the phenomenologist to develope unprejudiced justification of his or her views of the world and themselves as well as explore their rational interconnections.
Life and Work of Edmund Husserl -
Transcendental Phenomenological Method
In 1916 Göttingen, Husserl made his most philosophical discoveries; transcendental phenomenological method, he phenomenological structure of time-consciousness, the fundamental role of the notion of intersubjectivity in our conceptual system, the horizon-structure of our singular empirical thought, as well as others.
Life and Work of Edmund Husserl -
Professor
Husserl replaced professor Heinrich Rickert, and became full professor in Freiburg/Breisgau. He worked on a passive thesis, as well as taught four lectures on the Phenomenological Method and Phenomenological Philosophy at University College, London, in 1922. Husserl would then retire in 1928.
Life and Work of Edmund Husserl -
"On the Phenomenology of the Consciousness of Internal Time"
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"Formal and Transcendental Logic"
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"Cartesian Meditations"
Husserl's lectures from Paris were published. -
Isolation
In 1933 Hitler took over Germany. Due to Husserl's Jewish background, he became isolated and humiliated.
Life and Work of Edmund Husserl -
"The Crisis of European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology"
Husserl's final major work which included lectures in Prague. -
Death
On April 27, 1938, succumbed to death caused by Pleurisy. -
After Death
After death Husserl's manuscripts were were rescued by the Franciscan Herman Leo Van Breda. Van Breda brought the manuscripts to Leuven, now known as Belgium, where the first archive for Husserl was founded.
Life and Work of Edmund Husserl