Modes of givenness

pp. 3-11

in: Mohanty, Phenomenology and Ontology, Berlin, Springer, 1970

Abstract

The essence as well as the strength of positivism lies in its emphasis on the given as opposed to the constructed. However, in its zeal in favour of the given, positivism — in some of its modern forms — has taken recourse to constructions and reductions. The purpose of this paper is to argue out the case for a positivism which refuses to construct and to reduce and which, instead of dogmatically clinging to one favoured mode of givenness, recognises a hierarchy of such modes. This type of positivism may be named " higher positivism ' ; it is opposed to " lower ' positivism which takes recourse to constructions and reductions and which admits some sort of sensuous experience as the only mode of givenness.