Introduction

The Introduction presents what has been largely absent from the discussions in the various chapters: HCM’s personal background and the social and philosophical contexts of her thought. In addition, the Introduction addresses crucial aspects for understanding the hermeneutic dimensions involved in specific issues that addressed in the book. However, in the introduction special emphasis has been given to the mutual influences of the early phenomenologists. Thus, HCM’s ideas are discussed in the Introduction along with those of Husserl, Reinach, Geiger, Pfänder, Stein, von Hildebrand, and Spiegelberg. At the same time, the fascinating phenomenon whereby often the ideas of one member of the Circle were explained and further developed by other members reveals the group nature as a philosophical characteristic, which thus transpires as a key for the interpretation of early phenomenology in general.