 As one of the phenomena of cognition, Hartmann took human consciousness of problems very seriously. He believed that in the history of philosophy and science, thinkers arrived at many so-called solutions to problems by means of hasty theoretical assumptions rather than patient investigation. Any philosophy deserving of the epithet “critical” must be able to set aside the assumptions that arise from theoretical “standpoints” that can prejudice an investigation from the start. Critical philosophy, for Hartmann, designates a stance “this side” of idealism and realism, engaging an epoché (suspension) with respect to questionable standpoints. Such standpoints can blind us to seeing what is “transhistorical” in the history of philosophy, as well as to what is “given” in phenomena. The contrast between the historical and the transhistorical is a significant one for Hartmann and shapes much of his thinking. It does not coincide with the traditional contrast between timeless essences and historical particulars, for instance, but cuts across it, as we explain below.