The Ontological Commitment of Language. Husserl and Ricoeur in Dialogue on the Case of Material Widersinn

This paper addresses the question of the language/world relationship through the examination of the case of material countersense (Widersinn), as presented in Husserl’s genetici nvestigation of logic. By tracing judgments back to their pre-predicative origin, Husserl uncovers that even formal logical principles presuppose the a priori reference of judgments to the harmonious unity of experience. Material Widersinn is crucial here, as judgments in this sphere violate the a priori lawfulness of the pre-predicative dimension. Husserl thus considers them as impossible judgments, depriving them of cognitive value. Yet, one might ask whether a different conclusion could be reached. Ricoeur offers a metaphorical interpretation of countersensical expressions, revealing their heuristic potential in disclosing the ontological depth of reality. This reinterpretation opens a broader perspective on the interplay between language and experience, as well as a different conception of knowledge and truth itself.