In memoriam: Rolf von Eckartsberg (1932–1993)

This art icle was downloaded by: [ Universit y of Dallas Blakley Library ] On: 23 Sept em ber 2013, At : 19: 21 Publisher: Rout ledge I nform a Lt d Regist ered in England and Wales Regist ered Num ber: 1072954 Regist ered office: Mort im er House, 37- 41 Mort im er St reet , London W1T 3JH, UK The Humanistic Psychologist Publicat ion det ails, including inst ruct ions for aut hors and subscript ion informat ion: ht t p:/ / www.t andfonline.com/ loi/ ht hp20 In memoriam: Rolf von Eckartsberg (1932–1993) Scot t D. Churchill a a Depart ment of Psychology, Universit y of Dallas, Irving, TX, 75062 Published online: 16 Aug 2010. To cite this article: Scot t D. Churchill (1993) In memoriam: Rolf von Eckart sberg (1932–1993), The Humanist ic Psychologist , 21:3, 381-383, DOI: 10.1080/ 08873267.1993.9976932 To link to this article: ht t p:/ / dx.doi.org/ 10.1080/ 08873267.1993.9976932 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTI CLE Taylor & Francis m akes every effort t o ensure t he accuracy of all t he inform at ion ( t he “ Cont ent ” ) cont ained in t he publicat ions on our plat form . However, Taylor & Francis, our agent s, and our licensors m ake no represent at ions or warrant ies what soever as t o t he accuracy, com plet eness, or suit abilit y for any purpose of t he Cont ent . Any opinions and views expressed in t his publicat ion are t he opinions and views of t he aut hors, and are not t he views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of t he Cont ent should not be relied upon and should be independent ly verified wit h prim ary sources of inform at ion. 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Churchill University of Dallas On May 20,1993, Rolf von Eckartsberg died after a courageous but devastating battle with a rare form of cancer that had been diagnosed only shortly before last Christmas. One of the original Graduate Faculty in the program of existential—phenomenological psychology at Duquesne University, Rolf was an edifice within the Department: a "rock foundation" in whom many students and colleagues found a source of nourishing support. His contribution went far beyond that of his intellectual advances in the fields of social psychology and hermeneutic phenomenology; he became a living example of his philosophy of spiritually based conviviality and inspired fellowship. Born in Glendale California on August 5, 1932, Rolf attended Dartmouth College and then completed his graduate studies at Harvard University under the direction of Gordon Allport. While at Harvard he engaged in some of the fascinating learning experiences that would form the foundation for his academic work for many years to come. While studying under Allport and serving as an assistant to Timothy Leary, as well as to visiting professors Medard Boss and Viktor Frankl, Rolf assimilated a far-reaching understanding of their humanistic ideals and spiritual teachings. With his broad exposure to social and clinical studies Downloaded by [University of Dallas Blakley Library ] at 19:21 23 September 2013 382 The Humanistic Psychologist, 21, Autumn 1993 in psychology, and his intensive study of primary sources in the German intellectual traditions of hermeneutics, phenomenology, and Daseinsanalyse (especially the writings of Martin Heidegger and Ludwig Binswanger), as well as his love of poetry and literature, Rolf developed an ever-evolving multi-dimensional framework of understanding that would become incarnated in the ensemble of inter-relationships that constituted his community life with others. Well read in just about all of the major figures in the phenomenological tradition, Rolf was able to map them all into his own synthetic frameworks that he called "glyphs" of psychocosmic reality. In particular, his interest in the work of Alfred Schutz and Rosenstock-Huessy led him to develop his own thought in the direction of the discovery of essential dimensions of inter-subjectivity and multiple realities of consciousness, all within the structure of the culture-building activities of community life. His interest in theory-and-knowledge building and the "sociology of knowledge" served to contextualize his methodological advances in the development of a "situation analysis" of what he called "experiaction." While studying the particular "timeflows," he became concerned with the organization of the field of consciousness and the constitution of "landscapes of consciousness." Up until the week before his death, Rolf continued to work on, and in fact completed, an illustrated manuscript representing the full dynamism of the flow of consciousness. It was Rolfs overall intention to develop an ecologically oriented field-theory of human existence conceived in terms of an interdependent network of conscious events and social relationships constituting an "existential village." His all-encompassing vision, which embraced vast webs of personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal life, provided a brilliantly constructed groundwork upon which others could find sure footing. His interest in higher spiritual values served to situate the Duquesne psychology program's clinical studies within the framework of an "existential ensemble" wherein teachers and students could transcend traditionally defined role boundaries and enter into mutually inspiring relationships and networks, sometimes even reaching the heights of poetic dwelling together. Rolfs ever illuminating fascination with structures of conscious experiencing inspired his students to widen their own frames of reference and to see themselves and each other through new eyes. He believed that human social living must be based on an ethical and spiritual value-foundation: a transpersonal ground. His vision and understanding of the essence of human destiny is the call to love the other, the theo-dimension, beckoning in every situation to be Downloaded by [University of Dallas Blakley Library ] at 19:21 23 September 2013 Scott D. Churchill 383 actualized. In his own words, Rolf experienced "the dramatic-inspiring web of ongoing inter-communication" as "never-ending and forever nourishing... beyond space and time." Rolf certainly left his mark on the lives of many students, colleagues, and friends in a way that is beyond measure. In the course of a lifetime one encounters only a few individuals whose influence extends to one's personal sense of direction, spiritual values, the practice of one's profession, and one's dream of "the good life." In my own life, Rolf was a rare treasure: a cherished teacher, mentor, friend, confidant, and spiritual guide who invited me to share in his "inner circle." For the gift of his presence, I am forever grateful and would like to wish him a blessing on his psychocosmic journey: "Return to the Source!" Scott Churchill received his Ph.D. from Duquesne University. Currently he is associate professor at the University of Dallas. His research and publications are in phenomenological, psychoanalytic, and postmodern analyses of social role, as well as in the philosophical and methodological foundations of psychology as a human science. Address correspondence to: Scott Churchill, Department of Psychology, University of Dallas, Irving, TX 75062.