Alfred Schutz’s phenomenology of sedimentations
S. Geniusas
Continental Philosophy Review April 30, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11007-025-09677-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that Schutz's phenomenology of sedimentations is distinctive for its account of the genesis, disturbances, breakdown, and recommencement of sedimentation, which together form a dialectical process. Proposes that this account has implications for the critical function of breakdowns, the phenomenology of individuation, and the phenomenology of history. |
Abstract
Although few other phenomenologists have provided a more insightful analysis of sedimentation than Alfred Schutz, the importance of his reflections remains heavily underappreciated. To counteract this deficiency, this paper develops a systematic account of Schutz’s phenomenology of sedimentations. While recognizing the Husserlian background that underlies Schutz’s investigations, the paper brings to light the novelty of Schutz’s account which, I maintain, is to be found in his reflections on the genesis, disturbances, breakdown and the recommencement of the sedimentation process. Paying careful attention to these four fundamental features of Schutz’s phenomenology of sedimentations, I show how the genesis of sedimentations leads to their disturbances and breakdown, which in turn lead to the readjustments and recommencement of their formation. Having clarified the dialectical structure of Schutz’s phenomenology of sedimentations, I conclude by addressing three implications that follow from it, the first of which concerns the critical function of the breakdown of sedimentations, the second one—the significance of sedimentations for phenomenology of individuation, and the third one—the importance of Schutz’s phenomenology of sedimentations for phenomenology of history.
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Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- What is sedimentation? Continental Philosophy Review July 20, 2026
- Habit, sedimentation and economic institutions Continental Philosophy Review May 25, 2026
- The metaphor of sedimentation and the entanglement of metaphors in Husserl’s phenomenology of time-consciousness Continental Philosophy Review April 30, 2026