Chapter 17 Summary and Analysis

This chapter covers Irwin's relationship with "phenomenology"—the philosophy of human experience stemming in large part from the work of Edmund Husserl and his followers, with Jean Paul Sartre. When Irwin is told that Sartre dropped everything to learn about phenomenology, Irwin follows suit. What appeals to Irwin is the commitment made by these thinkers and the scale of their ambitions. Irwin is intrigued by the concept of becoming "reasonable," which held the dual challenge of becoming "responsible." Irwin sets about reading everything he can about this philosophy, sometimes spending all day reading, analyzing, and trying to understand every turn of phrase. Although he struggles with the concepts, he makes progress. After gaining understanding of the basics, Irwin writes his own view of the philosophy, "Notes Toward a Model." While much thought goes into his writing, it illustrates that his...