HUSSERL

**Introduction to Phenomenology:**

Phenomenology, as explained by Robert Sokolowski, is the philosophical method focused on describing

phenomena—how things appear to us in our experiences. Derived from the Greek words
"phainomenon" (appearance) and "logos" (account), it involves giving a detailed account of various
phenomena like pictures, memories, and symbols. Unlike Cartesian and Lockean traditions that suggest
our knowledge is confined within our minds, phenomenology asserts that consciousness is always
consciousness "of" something external. It liberates us from an egocentric view, emphasizing that objects
and experiences manifest themselves as they are in the world. For example, the wetness of grass exists
in the grass itself, not merely as an idea in our minds. This approach reconnects us with the reality and
truth of phenomena, acknowledging their independent existence and manifestation.

**Intentionality and Its Importance:**

Central to phenomenology is the concept of "intentionality," which means that every act of
consciousness is directed toward an object. This concept diverges from the everyday use of "intention,"
referring instead to the relationship between consciousness and its objects. Every experience—seeing,
imagining, remembering, judging—involves an object. This notion contrasts with traditional philosophies
that view consciousness as confined within itself, perceiving external reality only indirectly.
Phenomenology challenges this view by asserting that our consciousness is inherently directed outward,
engaging directly with the world.

The significance of intentionality becomes apparent against the backdrop of Cartesian and empiricist
philosophies, which dominate Western thought and suggest that our primary awareness is of our own
ideas, not the external world. This "egocentric predicament" implies that we are trapped within our own
minds, unable to directly access reality. Phenomenology counters this by emphasizing that we are always
in direct contact with the world, thereby justifying our instinctive belief in an external reality and
common world. This belief is essential for reason, evidence, and truth, preventing the relativism that
would ensue if we were truly confined to our subjective experiences.

**Insights:**

1. **Restoration of Direct Experience:**

 Phenomenology re-establishes direct contact with the world, emphasizing that our experiences and
perceptions are not just mental constructs but real engagements with external phenomena.

2. **Reality of Phenomena:**

Phenomenology asserts the independent existence and reality of phenomena as they appear to us.
This counters the notion that perceptions are merely internal states detached from the actual world.

3. **Challenge to Egocentric Predicament:**

By introducing intentionality, phenomenology challenges the egocentric view of consciousness,

asserting that our minds are not isolated but inherently connected to the world around us.

4. **Philosophical Liberation:**

Phenomenology liberates us from the philosophical confinement proposed by Cartesian and Lockean
traditions, offering a more expansive and connected understanding of human consciousness and
experience.

5. **Foundation for Objective Truth:**

Intentionality supports the notion of a shared, objective reality, essential for rational discourse,
evidence, and truth, countering cultural and philosophical relativism.

### Summary and Explanation

**Summary:**

In his lecture "The Idea of Phenomenology," Edmund Husserl differentiates between positive (empirical)
science and philosophical science. Positive science, driven by the natural attitude, investigates the world
and makes judgments based on perception, memory, and logical inference. It progresses by resolving
contradictions and expanding knowledge about reality through empirical and logical methods.

Philosophical science, however, questions the very possibility of knowledge itself. It reflects on how
knowledge relates to objects and tackles profound issues ignored by natural thinking, such as how
subjective experiences can correspond to objective reality. This reflection leads to a critical epistemology,
which aims to clarify the essence and possibility of knowledge and its relationship to objects. Husserl
emphasizes that philosophy requires a distinct method from the positive sciences, as it operates in a
different dimension, questioning the foundations and validity of knowledge itself.

**Explanation and Insights:**

1. **Natural Attitude vs. Philosophical Attitude:**

- **Natural Attitude:** In everyday life and in positive sciences, we take the existence of the world and
our knowledge of it for granted. We perceive, remember, and infer facts about the world without
questioning how this knowledge is possible.

- **Philosophical Attitude:** This involves stepping back and questioning the very foundations of our
knowledge. It examines the relationship between the knowing subject (us) and the objects we claim to
know.

2. **Positive Science:**

- Positive science deals with empirical investigation and logical reasoning to expand our understanding
of reality. It progresses by resolving contradictions and refining theories based on experience and
evidence.

- It covers both the natural sciences (physical and mental nature) and mathematical sciences (ideal
possibilities like numbers and relations).

3. **The Problem of Knowledge:**

- Husserl highlights a fundamental issue: how can we be certain that our subjective experiences
(perceptions, memories, thoughts) truly correspond to an objective reality?

- This question becomes a "riddle" because natural thinking assumes knowledge without questioning
its possibility. When scrutinized, the certainty of knowledge becomes problematic, leading to skepticism.

4. **Epistemology and Metaphysics:**

- Epistemology, or the critique of knowledge, is tasked with addressing these deep problems by
clarifying how knowledge is possible and how it relates to objects.

- Metaphysics, intertwined with epistemology, seeks to understand the ultimate nature of reality. It
grows out of a critique of positive knowledge and aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of
being.
5. **Phenomenology:**

- Husserl proposes phenomenology as a new method and attitude of thought that is distinct from the
methods of positive sciences. It involves a rigorous analysis of the structures of consciousness and how
objects are presented to us.

- Phenomenology aims to uncover the essential features of experiences and their intentionality—how
consciousness is always "of" or "about" something.

**Insights:**

- **Intentionality:** Central to Husserl's phenomenology is the concept of intentionality, which states

that consciousness is always directed towards objects. This counters the Cartesian view that knowledge
is confined within the mind and suggests that our experiences are inherently connected to the world.

- **Critical Reflection:** By critically reflecting on the nature of knowledge, phenomenology seeks to

avoid the pitfalls of skepticism and relativism. It aims to establish a firm foundation for understanding
how we can know anything about the world.

- **Methodological Distinction:** Husserl argues that philosophical inquiry must adopt a fundamentally
different method from positive sciences. While positive sciences build on empirical data and logical
consistency, philosophy must critically examine the very conditions that make knowledge possible.

In conclusion, Husserl's lecture emphasizes the need for a philosophical approach that goes beyond
empirical investigation to address the foundational questions about the possibility and nature of
knowledge. Phenomenology, with its focus on intentionality and critical reflection, provides a framework
for such an inquiry, distinguishing it from the methodologies of positive sciences.

### 1. The Problem of the Possibility of Knowledge

**Husserl's Definition:**

Husserl's "problem of the possibility of knowledge" refers to the fundamental issue of how knowledge is
possible—specifically, how our subjective experiences (perceptions, memories, thoughts) can reliably
correspond to objective reality. This problem questions the very foundation of our assumptions about
knowing anything outside of our own consciousness.
**Natural Sciences and Their Insufficiency:**

- **Empirical Focus:** Natural sciences are empirical and based on observation, experimentation, and
logical reasoning. They take the existence of the external world and our ability to know it for granted.

- **Limited Scope:** While they excel in discovering facts about the world, natural sciences do not
address the foundational question of how our knowledge of these facts is possible or justified.

- **Epistemological Blind Spot:** Natural sciences do not critically examine the relationship between the
knowing subject and the known object. They operate within the realm of what is already assumed to be
knowable and do not question the basis of these assumptions.

### 2. Natural vs. Philosophical Attitudes

**Natural Attitude:**

- **Unquestioning Acceptance:** In the natural attitude, individuals accept the existence of the world
and the objects within it as given. They do not question how these things are known or the basis of their
knowledge.

- **Focus on Empirical Reality:** Attention is directed towards observing, describing, and understanding
the empirical world. This attitude underlies the work of positive sciences, which build upon sensory
perception and logical inference to gain knowledge.

**Philosophical Attitude:**

- **Critical Reflection:** The philosophical attitude involves stepping back and questioning the very
foundations of knowledge. It asks how knowledge is possible and seeks to understand the relationship
between the subject and the object.

- **Epistemological Inquiry:** This attitude is concerned with the conditions and structures that make
knowledge possible. It involves a critical analysis of our experiences and the meanings we ascribe to
them.

- **Metaphysical Questions:** Philosophical thinking delves into the nature of reality itself, beyond what
is empirically observable, addressing questions about existence, objectivity, and the essence of being.
**Comparison:**

- **Focus:** Natural attitude focuses on empirical data and practical knowledge, while the philosophical
attitude focuses on foundational, abstract questions about knowledge and existence.

- **Methodology:** The natural attitude uses empirical and logical methods, whereas the philosophical
attitude employs critical reflection and analysis of consciousness and experience.

### 3. Phenomenology from a Philosophical Standpoint

**Definition:**

Phenomenology, according to Husserl, is both a method and a philosophical approach that seeks to
describe and analyze the structures of consciousness and the phenomena that appear in acts of
consciousness.

**Key Aspects:**

- **Intentionality:** Phenomenology emphasizes the intentional nature of consciousness—how it is

always directed towards something (an object, a thought, a memory).

- **Descriptive Analysis:** It involves the careful description of experiences as they are lived, without
presuppositions or theoretical constructs. This "bracketing" of assumptions is known as epoché.

- **Essence of Experience:** Phenomenology aims to uncover the essential structures and meanings of
experiences, focusing on how things appear to consciousness rather than assuming their independent
existence.

- **Critical Method:** Unlike the natural sciences, phenomenology critically examines the conditions
and possibilities of knowledge, questioning how subjective experiences can correspond to objective
realities.

**Philosophical Standpoint:**

- **Radical Inquiry:** Phenomenology seeks to go beyond the empirical and logical methods of natural
sciences by engaging in a more radical inquiry into the nature of consciousness and the basis of
knowledge.
- **Foundational Science:** It aims to provide a foundation for all other sciences by clarifying how
knowledge and objectivity are possible, thus addressing the epistemological and metaphysical issues
that natural sciences leave untouched.

- **Philosophical Attitude:** As a method and attitude, phenomenology embodies the philosophical

attitude of critical reflection, seeking to understand the essence of experiences and the intentional
structures that make knowledge possible.

In summary, phenomenology, from a philosophical standpoint, is a rigorous and critical approach to

understanding the structures of consciousness and the conditions for the possibility of knowledge,
distinguishing it fundamentally from the empirical focus of natural sciences.