Penitential Method as Phenomenological: The Penitential ἐποχή[i]

 by Daniel Wagner

Abstract

Synthesizing Thomism and Phenomenology, this paper compares the kind of reflective thinking and willing that goes on in penitential acts to Edmund Husserl’s method of the phenomenological ἐποχή (epoche).  As with the other sacraments, St. Thomas takes Penance to be a kind of virtue. Analysis of penance up through the act of contrition shows it to have three primary acts: (i) examination of conscience, and the (ii) reordering of the will and (iii) resolve not to sin again in regret.  After presenting this Thomistic conception of contrition in detail, the essence of Husserl’s ἐποχή as a method intended to “suspend” certain beliefs in order to discover the truth about knowledge will be presented.  In conclusion, it will be shown that a particular form of the ἐποχή—a penitential ἐποχή—must be employed in these three penitential acts so that a disposition of grace may be made present in the penitent. While the intentional analysis pursuant to Husserl’s ἐποχή, being limited in its scope to the critique of knowledge, requires only a νόησις-νόημα (knowing-known) view of the structure of consciousness, the penitential ἐποχή, extending in its scope to acts of will themselves, requires also a βούλησις-βούλημα (willing-willed) view of the structure of consciousness.  Expressing these penitential activities by way of analogy to the ἐποχή can aid the penitent in making an act of contrition and returning to a virtuous disposition of grace.