What is Phenomenology in Philosophy?
Phenomenology is a philosophical current that seeks to understand the nature of human experience and the relationship between the subject and the object. It emerged at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, with the German philosopher Edmund Husserl, and since then has influenced several areas of knowledge, such as psychology, sociology and anthropology.
Origin and development of phenomenology
Phenomenology began with Edmund Husserl, who proposed a new philosophical approach based on the analysis of conscious experience. Husserl believed that philosophy should focus on the precise and systematic description of experience rather than being concerned with metaphysical or theoretical questions.
Over time, other philosophers, such as Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre, developed and expanded Husserl's ideas, taking phenomenology to new heights. Heidegger, for example, explored the relationship between human existence and the world, while Sartre focused on individual freedom and responsibility.
Main concepts of phenomenology
Phenomenology has a series of key concepts that are fundamental to understanding this philosophical current. Some of these concepts include:
Intentionality
Intentionality is one of the central concepts of phenomenology. It refers to the ability of consciousness to direct itself to something, to be focused on an object or a specific experience. According to Husserl, all consciousness is intentional, that is, it is always directed towards something.
eidetic
Eidetics is the study of the essences or fundamental structures of experience. It seeks to understand the essential characteristics of an object or experience, regardless of its concrete existence. Through eidetics, phenomenology seeks to identify the universal structures that are present in all experiences.
Phenomenological reduction
Phenomenological reduction is a method used by phenomenology to suspend previous judgments and assumptions about reality in order to focus only on the description of the experience itself. It seeks to eliminate external influences and previous interpretations, allowing a more precise and objective analysis of the experience.
epoché
Epoché is a concept related to phenomenological reduction. It refers to the suspension of judgment about the existence of the external world, allowing consciousness to focus only on the immediate experience. Through epoché, phenomenology seeks to achieve a deeper understanding of experience, without worrying about ontological issues.
Contributions of phenomenology to other areas of knowledge
Phenomenology has had a significant impact on several areas of knowledge, contributing to the development of new approaches and perspectives. In psychology, for example, phenomenology influenced the humanistic approach, which seeks to understand the individual's subjective experience. In sociology, phenomenology has been used to analyze social interactions and the construction of social reality. In anthropology, phenomenology has been applied to understand the different forms of experience and meaning in different cultures.
Criticisms of phenomenology
Despite its contributions, phenomenology has also been the target of criticism. Some philosophers argue that phenomenology is excessively subjective and does not take into account the objective dimension of reality. Furthermore, phenomenology can be considered complex and difficult to understand, which limits its practical application in some areas of knowledge.
Conclusion
In short, phenomenology is a philosophical current that seeks to understand the nature of human experience and the relationship between the subject and the object. It emerged with Edmund Husserl and has influenced several areas of knowledge. Through concepts such as intentionality, eidetics, phenomenological reduction and epoché, phenomenology seeks a deeper understanding of the human experience. Despite its criticisms, phenomenology remains an important and relevant approach to philosophy and other disciplines.
