The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Edmund Husserl was a German philosopher and founder of the school of phenomenology. Husserl’s theory believes that consciousness cannot be measured the way nature is and should be explored through induction. His science of consciousness centers on intentionality. Renée compares Husserl’s and Kant’s approaches to consciousness early on in the novel and finds Husserl’s ideas depressing.

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher whose central contribution to philosophy was his philosophy of human freedom. Kant proposed that without freedom, human beings cannot act morally. While Renée prefers Kant over Husserl, she still comes to the conclusion that her understanding of Kant does not really help her understand or appreciate Husserl.

René Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician. Descartes’s philosophy highlights the duality of mind and matter, emphasizing the importance of consonance between the mind and body. As with her understanding of Kant, Renée finds that her reading of Descartes also does not help her understand the full implications of Husserl’s phenomenology.

Transcendental idealism is a philosophy associated with Immanuel Kant. Transcendental idealism believes that the ego extrapolates knowledge from impressions and universal concepts. Renée discusses this topic in relation to her attempt to read and understand Husserl’s work.

The Hunt for Red October is a film released in 1990. Directed by John McTiernan, this film explores themes of betrayal and social-political-cultural differences between the Soviet Union and American societies. This movie was the last one that Renée and her husband saw before he died.

The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo was published in 1906. The book is actually a long essay that criticizes Western stereotypes of Eastern culture through the explanation and celebration of Japanese aesthetics and culture. Renée mentions this book as she is having tea with Manuela, and she remembers how she learned to appreciate the ritual of drinking tea and connecting with her friend through the discussion of the tea ritual in the book.

The Munekata Sisters is a Japanese film directed by Yasujiro Ozu, released in 1950. This dramatic film is about a love triangle. Renée watched this movie, among several others, after becoming obsessed with the director and his ability to communicate the beauty in life through simple images. The image of the camellia on moss that becomes so symbolic (see: Symbols & Motifs) comes from this movie.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a piece of classic Russian literature published in 1869. The novel follows various Russians during the 1812 Napoleonic Army’s invasion of Russia and explores the way families and human connections are a reward for suffering. Renée responds with a quote from this book when told that Pierre Arthens has died. Renée also discusses this book, particularly in comparison to Anna Karenina with Kakuro.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is a piece of classic Russian literature published in 1878. Like War and Peace, Anna Karenina explores the ways in which people (particularly families) can both enrich and diminish the human experience. This is Renée’s favorite book, and she names her cat Leo after the author. Kakuro quotes this novel, making Renée shudder, which alerts Kakuro to Renée’s secret intelligence. 

Wolfgang Mozart was an 18th century composer who wrote classic operas exploring themes of human life, such as love and suffering. A movement from Mozart’s Requiem plays as Kakuro’s toilet flushes, which Renée finds both absurd and full of joy.