Abstract
This paper will deal with the relationship between 'life' (Leben) and the
'life-world' (Lebenswelt) 1 as we find these concepts in the writings of
Husserl's last years. The emphasis will be upon elucidating this relation-
ship from the transcendental point of view. It is well known that Husserl
initially introduced the concept of the life-world into his philosophy in
connection with the problem of founding the sciences: accordingly,
most studies up to date have dealt with the concept within this context
- that is, as part of the program for founding the sciences. However, it
is important to remember that the life-world is also, for Husserl, a 'way
to the transcendental reduction', and as such, can be ultimately clari-
fied only by following this way to its end, and by comprehending it in
its relationship to transcendental subjectivity. In his later years, Husserl
came to think of the 'way of being' (Seinsweise) of transcendental sub-
jectivity as 'world-experiencing-life' (welterfahrendes Leben). Thus it is
my view that the problem of the 'life-world' is intimately related to
that of 'life', and must necessarily be treated in the context of that rela-
tionship.