Phenomenology

Phenomenology is a philosophical movement that describes the structures of experience as they present themselves to consciousness, without recourse to theory, deduction, or assumptions from the natural sciences. The phenomenological approach involves the systematic study of the structures of consciousness and the phenomena that appear in acts of consciousness. This approach was first developed by Edmund Husserl.

History

Phenomenology, in Husserl's conception, is primarily concerned with the systematic reflection on and study of the structures of consciousness and the phenomena that appear in acts of consciousness. This phenomenological ontology can be clearly differentiated from the Cartesian method of analysis which sees the world as objects, sets of objects, and objects acting and reacting upon one another.

Key Concepts

Phenomenology is based on several key concepts, including:

• Intentionality: The fundamental property of consciousness to be always directed towards something. This is often summarised as "consciousness is always consciousness of something".
• Epoché: A Greek term used in phenomenology to describe the process of stepping back from the natural attitude and suspending judgement about the natural world.
• Phenomenological reduction: A method used in phenomenology to analyse the structures of experience and consciousness.

Criticisms and Controversies

Despite its influence and popularity, phenomenology has been criticised on several fronts. Some critics argue that it neglects the social and historical context of phenomena. Others claim that it lacks a clear methodology and can lead to subjective interpretations.

See Also

• Existentialism
• Hermeneutics
• Structuralism
• Post-structuralism

References

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