Phenomenology of Touch
Variations of Empfindnis and Time
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11275302 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nikos Soueltzis (0000-0001-6310-7006, University of Cyprus, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 111-137 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Human Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0163-8548 • E-ISSN: 1572-851X |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10746-025-09798-x |
| OpenAlex | W4411060489 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 17 |
The paper discusses the phenomenology of touch by focusing on the peculiar phenomenon of Empfindnis , as articulated by Edmund Husserl and further elaborated by Emmanuel Levinas and Didier Franck. I begin with Husserl’s distinction between the phantom-thing and the material-causal thing, highlighting Empfindnis as key to understanding the self-reflexive dynamics of touch. I examine in parallel Levinas’ conception of retention as the dephasing of proto-impression and his framing of Empfindnis as immediate iteration. I then explore Didier Franck’s perspective on the precedence of flesh over time, highlighting the role of Empfindnis in bridging hyle and flesh. I show that both frameworks, Levinas’ and Franck’s, supplement each other in terms of phenomenological legitimation against the backdrop of Husserl’s phenomenology. I then argue that Empfindnis functions within an Empfindnis-horizon , a structural framework that integrates temporal and spatial aspects of lived bodily experience, maintaining the living relevance of Empfindnis . This horizon sheds light on the intricate interplay between time, space, and embodiment in phenomenological thought. The study concludes that Empfindnis is a fundamental phenomenon that redefines our understanding of time-constitution and bodily self-awareness
Epistemology · Linguistics · Modern philosophy · Phenomenology (philosophy · Political philosophy · Political science · Politics · Sociolinguistics · Law · Multisensory perception and integration · Philosophy · Tactile and Sensory Interactions · Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
| Highly cited | No |
|---|