David Carr (philosopher)
David Carr (born 1939) is an American philosopher specializing in phenomenology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of history. He is perhaps best known for his work in developing and extending the phenomenological project initiated by Edmund Husserl, particularly in the areas of intersubjectivity, time consciousness, and the philosophy of history.
Carr received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1962. He has held teaching positions at various universities, including the New School for Social Research, where he was a long-time faculty member. He is a prominent figure in the contemporary phenomenological movement and has contributed significantly to the interpretation and application of Husserlian phenomenology to a range of philosophical problems.
His work on intersubjectivity explores how we understand and relate to other minds, building upon Husserl's investigations into empathy and the constitution of the Other. Carr argues for the primacy of shared experience and the role of social interaction in shaping our understanding of ourselves and others.
In the philosophy of history, Carr's work examines the nature of historical understanding, the role of narrative in shaping our perception of the past, and the relationship between history, memory, and identity. He has argued that history is not simply a collection of facts but a meaningful narrative constructed through the interpretation of evidence and the imposition of order on the past.
Selected Publications:
- Time, Narrative, and History (1986)
- The Paradox of Subjectivity: The Self in the Transcendental Tradition (1999)
- Experiencing the World (2014)