“Horizon. Studies in Phenomenology”—Vol. 10, No. 2, 2021
Special Issue
“Women Phenomenologists: Edith Stein, Hedwig Conrad-Martius, Gerda Walther”

Guest Editors: Ronny Miron & Simona Bertolini

Edith Stein (1891-1942), Hedwig Conrad-Martius (1888-1966), and Gerda Walther (1897-1977) share at least three common traits. Firstly, they were Edmund Husserl’s students and came under the influence of the realist phenomenology of the so-called “Munich and Göttingen circles”. Stein and Conrad-Martius studied with Husserl and Adolf Reinach in Göttingen; Walther, instead, took courses with Husserl in Freiburg and studied with Alexander Pfänder, one of the main proponents of the phenomenological tradition in Munich. Secondly, they had to abandon the project of beginning an academic career, as, for a woman, this was not an easy goal to fulfill at that time. Thirdly, they developed phenomenology in a personal way, regarding both the conception of phenomenological method and the field of objects this method addresses. Stein devoted herself to the theoretical project of connecting Husserl’s rigorous description and Thomas Aquinas’ metaphysics, with particular regard to the structure of the human person; Conrad-Martius established a relationship between ontology of real being and science, by elaborating an original philosophy of nature; Walther dedicated herself to diverse subjects, such as ontology of social communities, phenomenology of mysticism, mental illness, and parapsychology. These philosophies have received increasing attention in the last years, in particular in connection with the role of metaphysics in phenomenological inquiry, the profundity of human soul, the natural origin of man, and the religious experience.
The aim of our issue is to shed new light on the reception of Husserl’s philosophy in the thinking of these phenomenologists and on their peculiar contribution to broaden the field of phenomenological research.

We welcome submissions combining historical and systematic accentuation. Contributions can focus on one of the three indicated phenomenologists or suggest a comparative perspective in this regard. Authors are invited to consider one of the following topics:

• Women phenomenologists and the question of phenomenological method;
• Edith Stein’s phenomenological analyses, metaphysics, and philosophical anthropology;
• Conrad-Martius’ ontology, philosophy of science, and conception of man;
• Gerda Walther’s contribution to and development from phenomenology;
• Theoretical affinities and differences between women phenomenologists’ perspectives;
• The relation between women phenomenologists and other proponents of phenomenological tradition.

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