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Intending the World
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Chapter Synopses

  

Introduction

In the introduction, author Ralph Pettman discusses German philosopher Edmund Husserl's concept of phenomenology in regards to the global crisis in the rationalist project. He then describes the primal mental practices that were the result for him of sustained intuitive reflection, and how these practices craft contemporary world affairs.

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Chapter 1: On deferring

This chapter discusses the first primal mental practice to result from phenomenological reflection: deferring. It describes our submission to, as well as our creation of, authorities, exploring the way in which deferring fashions world affairs. More specifically, it focuses on global authority in regard to educative practices in Oceania.

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Chapter 2: On clumping

In human terms, clumping is the universally inherited tendency to form social groups. This tendency is often deemed the 'dominant characteristic' of our species. The chapter discusses this particular primal practice and how social groups form in relation to nation-making in general and the making of a German nation in particular.

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Chapter 3: On conflicting

Conflicting is a primary mental practice that shapes the world in many ways. It can unify as well as divide. It can reach out into world affairs to separate and consolidate nation-states. At worst, it can result in war. This chapter discusses conflicting in relation to making war as well as to one-time president of the United States, Jimmy Carter.

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Chapter 4: On ordering

The concept of world order is central to any mainstream discussion of how world affairs work. Since ordering takes place in too many ways to explore in a single chapter, the focus is placed here on moral order. In particular, it discusses in phenomenological terms the moral order that results from reading world affairs in terms of human rights.

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Chapter 5: On taking

This chapter explores the primal mental practice of appropriation. It shows how this practice is manifest in world affairs in terms of the possession of worldly goods, the history of global trade and the internationalisation of consumer lust.

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Chapter 6: On caring

In terms of the study of world affairs the primal practice of caring is not a familiar concept, but we do see it at work there, particularly with regard to people's participation in global social movements. Participation of this kind is exemplified in this chapter by those who hold Mount Everest in high sacral esteem.

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Chapter 7: On hoping

This chapter looks at the primal practice of hoping. It centres specifically on Marx's ideas about what a 'better world' might mean and more generally on utopias as ways of looking forward to global improvement.

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Chapter 8: On authority

The concluding chapter looks at the meta-thesis that emerged from every other chapter, namely, the contested role authorities play in the world. Attempts to establish legitimate power are all-pervasive but constantly questioned. To explain why, rationalists go to the frontiers of science. Phenomenologists go there too; however, they go beyond science.

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