ON THE ISSUE OF PHENOMENOLOGICAL TRADITION IN LITHUANIA

The reception of phenomenology in Lithuania first and foremost could be associated with an attempt by Vosylius Sezemanas to incorporate Husserlian phenomenology within his own gnoseological system. However, the subsequent development of phenomenological philosophy is related to the influence of Heideggerian rather than Husserlian philosophy. In Lithuania, like in other European countries, phenomenology was understood as an attempt to create a doctrine of pure consciousness which, as a "rigorous science", could ground other scientific disciplines. Simultaneously with the rejection of scientific pretensions, phenomenology was transformed into anthropological, existential, and hermeneutical philosophy. Antanas Maceina and Juozas Girnius associated existential philosophy with the philosophy of religion. Arvydas Sliogeris, Arunas Sverdiolas and Tomas Sodeika have all interpreted phenomenology in terms of Heidegger's "existential thinking". The latter three thinkers have a tendency of romantic nostalgia for "Reality". Each of them understand Reality in different terms - as sensual particular objects, as nature opposed to and outside of culture, and as an inexpressible secret discovered beyond textual narratives respectively, yet, despite these differences, they are united in their attempts to discover this uncorrupted reality as an ultimate existential basis. The goal of the article is to show that the diversity of interpretations in phenomenological philosophy does not deny but, on the contrary, confirms the existence of the tradition of phenomenological philosophy in Lithuania.