Phenomenology

Phenomenology is derived from the word “phenomenon” which refers to “experience”

and “logy” referring to “study”. Hence, it is a study of experience. However, it is not just
simply an experience but what is being studied here is human experience.
Phenomenology emerged because natural psychology treats human being as if an object,
a machine and a robot through the so-called scientific method.

A need to restore or give emphasis on the humanity of man is the primary goal of
phenomenology. Their motto is always been putting your feet into one’s shoe.

I. PROPONENT

Edmund Gustav Albrecht Husserl or simply known as Edmund Husserl was the
founding father of Phenomenology. He was a German Philosopher who was born on
April 8, 1859- April 27, 1938.

II. CHARACTERISTICS OF PHENOMENOLOGICAL ATTITUDE

There are four (4) qualities that phenomenology has.

(1) Phenomenology focuses on experience. Instead of starting at the level of observation,

data gathering, experiment and hypothesis of knowing the truth, phenomenology begins
its study on experience. Science assumes that all things can be known wherein in-fact it
is not. Experience can tell us something what scientific method cannot.

Take for example the feeling of being “in-love”. Science cannot give a conclusion from
the data gathered through an observation unless one experiences it. However, it must be
noted that every experiences varies from one person to another. This explains why there
are some who are bitter, believing that “walang forever”, and there are also who are not.

(2) Phenomenology focuses on human being. In this field, human being is the subject of
study. It teaches us how to give empathy to your fellowmen; part of giving an empathy is
to respect his/her life [e.g. his/her choice, gender, ability, feeling, affiliation, etc.] as a
human. This is another way of saying that all persons are born with unique qualities.

Take for example homosexuals fallen in-love with each other. From the point of view of
others they will have to criticize it because of their “incompatibility” with norms,
costumes and traditions in the society. However, for phenomenologists, they would have
to let it be and respect their decision basically because they are humans who have right
to love and to be loved back. They are not also harming the majority of the people.

(3) Phenomenology is descriptive. Unlike Natural Science, Phenomenology won’t use

logic [e.g inductive method nor deductive method] in their study of human being. It will
utilize description. Meaning, after they will observe the “experience” of a “human being”
they refrain from going into a general conclusion. Instead, they will have to describe
what their senses told to them. They tend to avoid judging on things that they don’t
personally experience.

When a phenomenologist saw lovers who are in quarrel, he/she will surely refuse from
saying that they are no longer in-love with each other because there are some reasons
why they are fighting. Instead, they are faithful to describe it with no distortion at all.

(4) Phenomenology uses “epoche”. Phenomenologist uses epoche in their method of

having a description that which is free from his/her biases.

The natural tendency of a person who saw two lovers in quarrel might be that either of
the two is not faithful to his/her partner; for the Phenomenologist, they would have to
look at first the situation what really happened.

III. STEPS IN PHENOMENOLOGY

(1) Epoche. It is the first step in Phenomenological method. It says that before someone
says something he/she has to suspend all those stereotyping.

What comes in your mind when you see a person who is a drug addict or a gay or not
excellent in the class? Obviously, our biases prevail. We will condemn a person because
he is an addict; we will laugh unto that person because he is a gay [which is deviant from
our norms]; and bully a student because he is a slow learner in the class. All those things
are stereotyping and must not be tolerated. It must be discouraged.

Unless you will suspend your biases on someone you can never see the richness and
beauty of his/her life as human being. As they saying goes, “don’t judge the book by its
cover” and phenomenologist asserted “don’t judge a person by their appearance”.

(2) Phenomenological Eidetic Reduction. It is the second step in Phenomenological

method; Eidetic Reduction simply means the “essence” of someone or something. After
you suspended your biases on something or on someone, you will then reduce it into its
essence in-order for you to know their beauty beyond from their appearance.

(2.1) For example Man is said to be as the highest form of animal. We ask what is the
essence why it is being said as such? Man’s ability to reason out on things is the essence
why he is called as the highest form of animal. Taking it away from then he is no longer
a human being at all.

(2.2) Take another example the word love. Others would equate love as “kilig”, sex,
puppy love, as admiration, etc. However, Phenomenologist always ask what defines
“love”? To do this, someone must reduce love into its essence. In so doing, you will find
out that the essence of love is the “unconditional giving”. You can take away “kilig”, sex,
puppy love and admiration from love but you can never take away “unconditional
giving” in love. As they have said, love knows no boundaries. Hence, one cannot dictate
you as to who is deserving to be loved because that is a conditional loving and is
therefore cannot be called as love at all.

(3) Phenomenological Transcendental Reduction. After you reduced the essence of the
subject of your study, you will then give meaning to it according to your experience; you
claimed it because you experienced it.

(3.1) Example you saw person who is a gay. After you suspended those biases of a gay
you will have to reduce their essence and you will find out that they are just being honest
to what they have felt about themselves making it a reason why they choose to be a gay.
In Transcendental Reduction, you will answer the question what is a gay for you based
on your personal experience.

(3.2) Another example is being a teacher. After you suspended those stereotyping of a
teacher as the one who checks attendance, gives grade and teaches lesson you have to
reduce their essence and you will find out that they foster good moral values to the
students for them to become a good citizen. Denying this essence, one ca no longer be
called as teacher. In Transcendental Reduction, teacher is understood based on your
own experience.

(3.3) Last example is love. After you suspended your prejudices on love, you have to
reduce its essence as “unconditional giving”. The unconditional giving defines love.
However, this kind of understanding about love may be different from others because it
must came from your own experience.