On Fulfillment: Uncovering the Possibility of a New Objective Insight

E d m u n d H u s s e r l ' s Logical Investigations p r o v i d e s the f ramework which gu ides this presenta t ion . 1 That f ramework revolves around the analysis of a subject 's empty intentional act meeting with an object in a moment of fulfillment, where fulfillment is the occurrence of insight or knowledge. Husser l ' s theory of fulfillment, al though promising a lot, does not deliver on all its promises . In particular, we highlight two problems which foil Husser l ' s attempt to account for the notion of fulfillment. From these problems, we show how Paul Ricoeur ' s interest in the text and narrative, although changing the focus of Husser l ' s analysis , makes possible the framework set up in the Logical Investigations. The first problem relates to the issue of an intersubjective grasp of the external world. Husser l ' s notion of fulfillment implies an intersubjective component but fails to account for it given his focus on the solitary life (Seelenleben) of the speaking subject. As means to free us from this limitation, we encounter Ricoeur ' s notion of the text. The second problem stems from Husser l ' s inability to del iver on his productive notion of fulfillment. T o show this, we must first explain that fulfillment can be understood from two different levels: static and dynamic . On the static level, Husserl explains that the subject 's grasp of meaning—a consciousness of ident i ty— is not productive since what the subject comes to know is a meaning already operative in the subject 's pre-reflective life. On the dynamic level, the subject can be said to gain a new insight into the world thus highlighting a productive sense of fulfillment. Although this productive sense of fulfillment promises to open the subject to new objective insights, Husser l ' s solipsism makes dynamic fulfillment an inoperable notion. As an answer to this problem, we turn to Ricoeur ' s notion of narrative and show how productive fulfillment can occur.