Phenomenon
A Phenomenon (pl. phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observable event. The term came into its modern philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which cannot be directly observed. Kant was heavily influenced by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in this part of his philosophy, in which phenomenon and noumenon serve as interrelated technical terms. Far predating this, the ancient Greek Pyrrhonist philosopher Sextus Empiricus also used phenomenon and noumenon as interrelated technical terms.
Different words for “phenomenon” across philosophical traditions include appearance (Erscheinung), that which shows itself (phainonmenon), essence (Wesensschauung), and sense datum. The term’s meaning is often contrasted with other concepts; for example, Kant contrasted phenomenon with noumenon (the thing-in-itself), while some traditions emphasize the subjective and experiential nature of phenomena as opposed to an external reality.
From various philosophical traditions
- Appearance/Erscheinung: In the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, the German word Erscheinung is often translated as “phenomenon” and refers to the immediate object of sensory intuition, the world as it appears to us.
- Phainonmenon/That which shows itself: This is a translation of the Greek term from which “phenomenon” is derived. It emphasizes the self-revealing or self-manifesting nature of an experience or event.
- Essence/Wesensschauung/Intuition: In phenomenology, particularly in the work of Edmund Husserl and his followers, the focus is on understanding the “essence” of an experience, which is the core structure or meaning of the phenomenon as it is consciously lived.
- Sense datum: This term is used to describe the raw, sensory information that we are directly aware of, such as the redness of a tomato or the sound of a bell, which is distinct from the object itself.
Contrasting concepts
- Noumenon/Thing-in-itself: This concept, contrasted with phenomenon by Kant, refers to the reality of things as they are independent of our perception of them.
- Abstract concept/Begreifen: While a phenomenon is a sensory experience, an abstract concept is a mental construct created through inference and is often contrasted with the immediate, intuitive grasp of the phenomenon.
Summary by tradition
| Tradition | Key term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kantian | Erscheinung | The world as it appears to us through our senses and mental categories. |
| Phenomenology | Essence, Sense Datum | The core structure of a conscious experience or the raw sensory data itself. |
| Ancient Greek | Phainonmenon | That which shows itself or comes to light, often with a sense of natural unfolding. |
AI responses may include mistakes.
[2] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482620500478405
[3] https://iep.utm.edu/met-phen/
[5] https://iep.utm.edu/phenom/
[6] https://www.britannica.com/topic/phenomenon-philosophy
[7] https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/phenomenon
[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/phenomenology
[9] https://philosophypublics.medium.com/phenomenology-a-primer-d393e6653657