Theme and attitude

pp. 331-349

in: Aron Gurwitsch, The collected works of Aron Gurwitsch (1901–1973) I, Berlin, Springer, 2010

Abstract

In our prior meeting, we endeavored to sketch out the major guidelines according to phenomenological theory, for the constitution of objects (mainly of the type "reiform thing"). The said constitution placed us before a most particular fact, namely, potentiality. The study of this fact could make our investigations advance to a considerable extent, especially in those areas in which there is room for progress. The manner in which the fact in question had presented itself to us at the time when the aforementioned problem was considered can be summarized as follows: when one perceives some thing or other, the theme of one's concerns offers itself from a certain side and under a definite aspect, and it cannot offer itself otherwise because it is a reiform thing.