Phenomenology

Phenomenology is a philosophy of experience. For phenomenology the ultimate source of all meaning and value is the lived experience of human beings. All philosophical systems, scientific theories, or aesthetic judgments have the status of abstractions from the ebb and flow of the lived world. The task of the philosopher, according to phenomenology, is to describe the structures of experience, in particular consciousness, the imagination, relations with other persons, and the situatedness of the human subject in society and history. Phenomenological theories of literature regard works of art as mediators between the consciousnesses of the author and the reader or as attempts to disclose aspects of the being of humans and their worlds. The modern founder of phenomenology is the German philosopher Edmund Husserl (1859–1938), who sought to make philosophy “a rigorous science” by returning its attention “to the things themselves” (zu den Sachen selbst). He does not mean by this that phil… Husserl proposes that reflection put out of play all unprovable assumptions (about the existence of objects, for example, or about ideal or metaphysical entities) and describe what is given in experience. The road to a presuppositionless philosophy, he argues, begins with suspending the “natural attitude” of everyday knowing, which assumes that things are simply there in the external world. Philosophers should “bracket” the object-world and, in a process he calls epoché, or “reduction,” focus their attention on what is immanent in consciousness itself, without presupposing anything about its origins or supports. Pure description of the phenomena given in consciousness would, Husserl believes, give philosophers a foundation of necessary, certain knowledge and thereby justify the claim of philosophy to be more radical and all-encompassing than other disciplines ― “Phenomenology”

Phenomenology, at its core, is a philosophical approach that focuses on the study of experience, particularly how individuals perceive and understand the world around them. It emphasizes the importance of lived experience as the basis for knowledge and meaning-making. Key philosophical perspectives within phenomenology include the focus on subjective experience, the rejection of objective knowledge, and the importance of intentionality, which is the directedness of consciousness towards objects.

• Subjectivity and the Lived Experience: Phenomenology argues that understanding the world requires acknowledging the subjective nature of individual experience. It emphasizes the importance of “lived experience” – the direct, immediate way we experience things – as the foundation for understanding reality.
• Rejection of Objectivity: Phenomenology differs from traditional philosophical approaches that prioritize objective knowledge and external realities. Instead, it focuses on the individual’s subjective perspective and how they make sense of their experiences.
• Intentionality: A central concept in phenomenology is intentionality, which refers to the directedness of consciousness towards something. For example, when we perceive a chair, our consciousness is “intended” towards that chair. This directedness is a fundamental aspect of experience.
• Reduction: A common method used in phenomenological research is “reduction,” which involves temporarily setting aside pre-existing beliefs, assumptions, and theories to better understand the essence of a particular experience.
• The “Things Themselves”: A phrase often associated with phenomenology is “back to the things themselves.” This means returning to the raw, unfiltered experience of the world, rather than relying on theoretical frameworks or pre-existing knowledge.
• Founding Figures: Edmund Husserl is often considered the founder of phenomenology, and his work laid the foundation for the approach. Martin Heidegger and other figures like Maurice Merleau-Ponty further developed and expanded upon Husserl’s ideas.