PRIMARY AND SECONDARY REFLECTIONS

Reflection is the attention we give to something. Different things require different kinds of
reflection. Primary reflection is directed at that which is outside us while secondary reflection is directed
at the philosophical and spiritual issues.
the difference between Primary and Secondary reflection is like the difference between a problem and a
mystery once a problem is solved it is dismissed from consciousness, whereas a mystery always remains
alive and interesting. Problems are resolved using "primary reflection Mysteries, are dealt with by
"secondary reflection," which concerns itself with deeper personal insights.

the distinctive note of philosophic thought, at least according to my conception of it and I have many
authorities for that conception, is that not only does it move towards the object whose nature it seeks to
discover, but at the same time it is alert for a certain music that arises from its own inner nature if it is
succeeding in carrying out its task. We have already said that the point about philosophic thought is that it
is reflective, and it is into the nature of reflection, as an activity, that we must probe more deeply than we
have done so far.

A Summary of Primary and Secondary Reflection: The Existential Fulcrum

A Summary of Marcels Primary and Secondary Reflection: The Existential Fulcrum
Marcel shows us the turning point of our experiences from mere occurrences to part of our being.
Through his system, which he calls Primary and Secondary Reflection, one is able to look deeper into his
own experience in an attempt to draw something more meaningful and helpful to him, or understand the
true essence of his experience. It is comparable to taking apart an engine of a car in order to diagnose its
problem, then later returning the engine into its original state while gaining insight on its problems. For
Marcel experience and reflection are one. Therefore, experience without reflection is mere occurrence and
only becomes experience when reflected upon.
His method starts when a phenomenon that breaks the daily calmness of an individual occurs. This
experience calls for reflection. Our immediate consciousness of what happens is our primary reflection.
We must further break this down in order to come up with a deeper understanding. From this point, we
reconstruct the experience while integrating what we have discovered from it, thus a transcendence of
knowledge through reflection on experience. This is our secondary reflection or a reflection upon our
reflection. Through this process, we become aware of our awareness. We experience exclamatory
awareness. This is when we feel truly alive.
In order for man to exist, he must coexist. This means that man cannot be alone because he needs an
external object to reassure or confirm his existence. Man has to find his purpose outside himself, Primary
and Secondary Reflection serves as a means for man to discover himself through the experiences that
other people share with him. Although, this method is not to be limited to man-to-man experience alone,
it finds its most essential value in such situations. Man is only aware of his awareness through the help of
other humans who seek to be aware of their awareness as well. Thus, it becomes an essentiality to reflect
on ones reflection. I would like to coin the term critical reflection for this matter. Critical Reflection
becomes the fulcrum of existentialism because it ultimately leads to the question, who am I? This is the
most important question an existing man must ask himself.
 PRIMARY & SECONDARY REFLECTION 1
I.Problem
a. An obstacle which breaks a routine.
b. A task that [gets in the way of achieving] your main goal
c. It implies a desired outcome with an apparent deficiency or inconsistency
that prevents the outcome from taking place. [Comment: Is this from Marcel or
from a dictionary?]
II.Reflection
. From the [Latin] word [re]flectio which means to [bend] back.
a. When we reflect, our attention is directed.
b. Helpful in solving problems.
c. Marcel gives two types of reflection: primary and secondary
III.Primary Reflection
. The person sees a situation as a problem.
a. This reflection solves the problem e.g. solving a mathematical equation.
i.Marcel gives the example of losing your watch and by tracing back your steps, you
solve the problem.
b. However, this reflection does not totally involve the self. Marcel [borrows
the popular notion of life and reflection as hot and cold, respectively].
.[Romanticism] says that reflection is cold and life is hot.
i.In the watch example, when you trace back your steps, you are somehow separated
from yourself as you do the reflection like seeing yourself from a[nother]
perspective.
c. Is reflection really separated from life?
IV.Secondary Reflection
. Involves the person entirely