Abstract

Given the recurring and sustained evidence of certain traits associated with Phenomenology in the writings of C. S. Lewis can it be said that Phenomenological thinking influenced his writing? ;Part of the history of Phenomenology dates to the writings of Edmund Husserl. In 1913 Husserl published his Ideen which influenced his subsequent works. According to some analysts these later ideas led Husserl to Transcendental Idealism. ;However, there is another interpretation of Phenomenology evident in the first edition of Husserl's Logische Untersuchungen. It is found in the writings of Adolf Reinach, Alexander Pfaender and Dietrich von Hildebrand. The latter three philosophers broke with Husserl when his ideas began to reflect the aspects of Transcendental Idealism. They founded what has become known as the Munich School of Phenomenology. It is this interpretation of Phenomenology through which the aspects of C. S. Lewis's writings will be viewed. The Phenomenological works used will be those of Dietrich von Hildebrand. ;Von Hildebrand's ideas are sometimes referred to as Phenomenological Realism espousing the basic principle of "back to the things themselves." The points that will be focused on in the writings of C. S. Lewis are expressed or related to the following questions: Does Lewis examine intelligible intuitively accessible essences? Does Lewis use insight as opposed to scientific method? Does Lewis forgo empirically based philosophies? Does Lewis recognize that values demand a positive response? Does Lewis accept man as a combination of intellect, will and heart? Does Lewis accept faith as an outcome of philosophical truths? ;Due to circumstances, C. S. Lewis had to forgo his dream of teaching philosophy. Thus he turned to literature and writing, only to become a popular and prolific writer. ;Because of C. S. Lewis's versatility, the books chosen are from various genres---autobiography, apologetics, philosophy, religion, letters/fiction, fairy tales and essays. ;Examining lived experience is a characteristic of both C. S. Lewis and Phenomenology. If it can be determined that the writings of C. S. Lewis are indeed phenomenologically based, it will join him to a major 20th Century European value-based philosophical movement.