Falling Asleep
Karl Mertens
The New Yearbook for Phenomenology and Phenomenological Philosophy October 21, 2026 DOI: 10.4324/9781042011384-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the fading of experience and conscious intentionality as one falls asleep, though seemingly resistant to phenomenological analysis, provides a unique phenomenological perspective. The chapter contends that falling asleep transcends the boundary between subjectivity and objectivity and explores its relationship to trust. |
Abstract
The process of falling asleep involves a gradual dissolution of experience and consciousness. This phenomenon seems to resist phenomenological analysis that aims to examine phenomena in their original experience. However, it is precisely this structure of fading experience that provides a unique phenomenological perspective on falling asleep. This chapter focuses on the diminishing conscious intentionality that characterizes the act of falling asleep. Additionally, it discusses how the phenomenon transcends the boundaries between subjectivity and objectivity and explores the relationship between falling asleep and trust.