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Common usage
For other uses, see Phenomena (disambiguation) and Phenomenal (disambiguation).
Philosophy
A phenomenon (pl.: phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observable event.[1]
Science The term came into its modern philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with
Sociology the noumenon, which cannot be directly observed. Kant was heavily influenced by Gottfried Wilhelm
Leibniz in this part of his philosophy, in which phenomenon and noumenon serve as interrelated
See also
technical terms. Far predating this, the ancient Greek Pyrrhonist philosopher Sextus Empiricus also
References used phenomenon and noumenon as interrelated technical terms.
External links
Common usage [ edit ]

In popular usage, a phenomenon often refers to an extraordinary event. The term is most commonly
used to refer to occurrences that at first defy explanation or baffle the observer. According to the
Dictionary of Visual Discourse:[2]

In ordinary language 'phenomenon/phenomena' refer to any occurrence worthy of note

and investigation, typically an untoward or unusual event, person or fact that is of special
significance or otherwise notable.

Philosophy [ edit ]

See also: Phenomenology (philosophy)

In modern philosophical use, the term phenomena means things as they are experienced through The combustion of a match is an observable
the senses and processed by the mind as distinct from things in and of themselves (noumena). In occurrence, or event, and therefore a phenomenon.

his inaugural dissertation, titled On the Form and Principles of the Sensible and Intelligible World,
Immanuel Kant (1770) theorizes that the human mind is restricted to the logical world and thus can only interpret and understand occurrences according
to their physical appearances. He wrote that humans could infer only as much as their senses allowed, but not experience the actual object itself.[3] Thus,
the term phenomenon refers to any incident deserving of inquiry and investigation, especially processes and events which are particularly unusual or of
distinctive importance.[2]

Science [ edit ]

See also: Phenomenalism

In scientific usage, a phenomenon is any event that is observable, including the use of instrumentation to
observe, record, or compile data. Especially in physics, the study of a phenomenon may be described as
measurements related to matter, energy, or time, such as Isaac Newton's observations of the Moon's orbit and of
gravity; or Galileo Galilei's observations of the motion of a pendulum.[4]

In natural sciences, a phenomenon is an observable happening or event. Often, this term is used without
considering the causes of a particular event. Example of a physical phenomenon is an observable phenomenon
of the lunar orbit or the phenomenon of oscillations of a pendulum.[4]
A comparison between a candle
flame on Earth (left) and in a
A mechanical phenomenon is a physical phenomenon associated with the equilibrium or motion of objects.[5]
microgravity environment, such as that
Some examples are Newton's cradle, engines, and double pendulums. found on the International Space
Station (right).
The same burning phenomenon is
Sociology [ edit ] observed, but different flame shape
and colouring phenomena are also
See also: Phenomenology (sociology) observed.
Group phenomena concern the behavior of a particular group of individual entities, usually organisms and most
especially people. The behavior of individuals often changes in a group setting in various ways, and a group may
have its own behaviors not possible for an individual because of the herd mentality.

Social phenomena apply especially to organisms and people in that subjective states are implicit in the term.
Attitudes and events particular to a group may have effects beyond the group, and either be adapted by the
larger society, or seen as aberrant, being punished or shunned.

See also [ edit ]

Cloud chamber phenomena.
Awareness
Scientists use phenomena to refine
Condition of possibility some hypotheses and sometimes to
Essence disprove a theory. See also animated
version.
Electrical phenomena
Experience
Intuition
List of cycles
List of effects
List of electrical phenomena
List of geological phenomena
List of Internet phenomena
List of natural phenomena
List of severe weather phenomena
List of syntactic phenomena
Observation
Optical phenomena

References [ edit ]

1. ^ "Phenomenon" . The Columbia Encyclopedia. 2008.

2. ^ a b "Phenomenon/Phenomena" . Dictionary of Visual Discourse: A Dialectical Lexicon of Terms. 2011.
3. ^ Kant, Immanuel. [1770] 2019. On the Form and Principles of the Sensible and Intelligible World, translated by W. J. Eckoff (1894). – via Wikisource.
4. ^ a b Bernstein, Jeremy (1996). A Theory for Everything. New York: Copernicus.
5. ^ "Mechanical Phenomenon" . AudioEnglish.org. Tudorancea Media Network. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.

External links [ edit ]

The dictionary definition of phenomenon at Wiktionary

Quotations related to Phenomenon at Wikiquote
Media related to Phenomena at Wikimedia Commons

Authority control databases: National Germany · Israel · United States

Categories: Phenomena Concepts in metaphysics Observation Phenomenology

This page was last edited on 6 January 2024, at 12:36 (UTC).

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