Phenomenology:
The “science of being”
By Sterling True & Sterling True
What is phenomenology?
• Phenomenology examines patterns of subjective
experience and consciousness
• Focus upon a systematic reflection on and investigation of
the structures of consciousness: Realist concepts can be
examined scientifically
• Based solely on consciousness
• Individuals will be influenced by others, but not same
experience
• Views social world as multiform structure
• Inner-subjectivity
• Group understanding/unity
Edmund Husserl (1859-1938)
• “Father of phenomenology”
• Married, with three children
• Developed theories later in life (post retirement/late at
university)
• Studied mathematics, led to empirical works
(Phenomenology)
• Influences ranged from Descartes, Hume, Kant
Husserl’s Ideas/Contributions
• Every certainty is questionable
• Believed scientific method & naturalistic thinking was
overvalued and, “not important to understanding behavior
based on consciousness.” In short, can conduct a science of
perceptions
• Consciousness is where you will find ‘true’ meaning behind actions
• Time Consciousness: past events influence one’s present
consciousness/perception
• In turn, allows unbiased & biased ‘time’ to be cohesive to draw
perceptions
• Perception was based on retention and memory
• What one “sees” is based on past memories and reflection
• Ex. Spouse with ex, who cheated may suspect current spouse of same actions
Alfred Schutz (1899-1959)
• Responsible for phenomenology's development into a
social science
• Key inspirations were Weber & Husserl
• Studied law & social science at the University of Vienna
• Husserl offered assistant role to Schutz
• Declined for ‘personal reasons’
• Corresponded throughout their lives
Schutz’s Ideas/Contributions
• Must accept own existence & other’s existence
• Must reflect/observe other experience and relate/find
understand from own experience
• Can observe own experiences only in past, can observe ‘yours’ as
they take place
• Leads to individuals coexisting, or having each consciousness
intertwining
• We will see our actions as single act, not natural view of two
separate persons
• “Growing old together”
• Each act is influences by others, but not the same experience
• Ex. Concert level enjoyment
• Therefore, experience shared but consciousness is unique
Schutz’s Contributions Cont.
• This shared experience leads us to our social world
• Allows understanding of ‘united individualism’
• Can perceive same world & understand others with similar
experiences/subjective meanings
• Leading to social relationship or, “mutually related act of consciousness”
• Social scientist should act as observer to detach self and biases
• Stock of Knowledge: As observer, researcher must draw from
own experience to, “fill in blanks.” Individuals must also do this
while interacting. World is constructed by social group/life
experiences and allow them to create proper behaviors/actions
Peter Berger (1929-)
• Born in Vienna, Austria
• Studied under Alfred Schutz
• Coauthored publications with wife, Brigitte Berger
• Key focus was on religions importance on society & how
social forces has led to religion creations
Berger’s Contributions
• Social reality or perception is influenced by culture and
experience
• Ex. An American businessman will see reality different than a
monk
• “Knowledge” is developed and maintained through social
situations
• Everyday life or reality is subjective and is originated through
own thoughts and actions (past & modifications)
• Ex. Immigrants opposing language change; dramatic change in
everyday life/social reality
• Social relationships allow subjective meanings to transfer into
objective/shared meanings
Berger’s Contributions Cont.
• Reification & Consciousness: Humans ‘forget’ power over
social world. Leads to:
• Reification: Turning an abstract object into material object, or
turning ’ownership’ to an unknown
• In turn, leads to alienation & false consciousness, or perception
• Reality is constantly recreated by external experiences
• Ex. Norms and values
• Politics is what delivers social control and society’s
‘restrictions’
Relevancy
• Allows us to understand or “see” how social structure
develops
• Breaks down individuals, ‘actors’ and view why these
actions are formed
• Explains how perceptions are gained, molded, then used in
everyday life
• Explains the limitations of a positivist approach to science
• Provides a methodological solution to a scientific
investigation of realist concepts.
Limitations
• Phenomenology is a method, not a theoretical approach.
• Subject to interpretation
• Ex. As observer, must occasionally fill in blanks, which could
lead to inaccuracies