Dreaming Consciousness: A Contribution from Phenomenology

This paper offers a historical reconstruction of phenomenological studies on dreaming and proposes a draft for a phenomenological theory of the dream state. It argues that prominent phenomenologists have interpreted the dream as an intentional process, emphasizing its relevance for understanding the complexity of mental life, the interplay between reality and unreality, and the construction of parallel spheres of experience that influence personal identity. The author proposes a new phenomenology of dreaming based on Eugen Fink's notion of the dream as "presentification," combining past and present phenomenological investigation to explain the intentional features of dreaming as Erlebnis.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract : The central aim of this paper is to offer a historical reconstruction of phenomenological studies on dreaming and to put forward a draft for a phenomenological theory of the dream state. Prominent phenomenologists have offered an extremely valuable interpretation of the dream as an intentional process, stressing its relevance in understanding the complexity of the mental life of subject, the continuous interplay between reality and unreality, and the possibility of building parallel spheres of experience influencing the development of personal identity. Taking into consideration the main characteristics of dream experience emphasized by these scholars, in the final part of the paper I propose to elaborate a new phenomenology of dreaming, which should be able to offer a theoretical description of dream states. My sketched proposal is based on Eugen Fink’s notion of the dream as “presentification”. By combining the past and the present of phenomenological investigation, I aim at suggesting a philosophical framework to explain the intentional features of dreaming as Erlebnis . Keywords : Phenomenology; Dreaming State; Presentification; Erlebnis; Ego La coscienza sognante: un contributo dalla fenomenologia Riassunto : Lo scopo principale di questo articolo e offrire una ricostruzione storica degli studi fenomenologici sul sogno e proporre un abbozzo per una teoria fenomenologia dello stato onirico. Importanti fenomenologi hanno offerto un’interpretazione particolarmente valida del sogno inteso come processo intenzionale, mettendone in rilievo il significato per la comprensione della complessita della vita mentale del soggetto, la continua interazione tra realta e irrealta, e la possibilita di costruire sfere parallele di esperienza che esercitano un’influenza sull’identita personale. Prendendo in considerazione le principali caratteristiche dell’esperienza onirica messe in luce da questi studiosi, nella parte finale dell’articolo propongo di elaborare una nuova fenomenologia del sogno, che dovrebbe essere in grado di offrire una descrizione teoretica degli stati onirici. Il mio abbozzo di proposta si basa sulla nozione di “presentificazione” di Eugen Fink. Mettendo insieme il passato e il presente dell’indagine fenomenologica, il mio obiettivo e proporre una cornice filosofica per chiarire le strutture intenzionali del sogno inteso come Erlebnis . Parole chiave : Fenomenologia; Stato onirico; Presentificazione; Erlebnis; Ego