Sansningens phaneroscopy

Abstract

The Danish theologian and philosopher K.E. Løgstrup has presented an original theory of sensation. From a phenomenological perspective, sensation is not receptive but without distance, he claims. By introducing C.S. Peirces categories Firstness, Secondness and Thirdness, it is argued that Løgstup’s understanding of sensation coheres with parts of Peirce’s so called phaneroscopy. The lack of distance in sensation corresponds to Firstness. As a corollary, Løgstrup’s theory can be understood within Peirce’s more comprehensive phenomenological approach to reality. Finally, some perspectives for Løgstrup’s religious interpretation of sensation are discussed.