PDU3701
Assignment 7
Phenomenology
Due 7 July 2025
, PDU3701
Assignment 7
Due Date: 7 July 2025
Phenomenology
Question 1: Two Philosophers Associated with Phenomenology
Edmund Husserl: The Founder of Phenomenology
Edmund Husserl (1859–1938) is widely recognized as the founder of phenomenology, a
philosophical method that seeks to explore the structures of conscious experience from
a first-person perspective. Husserl’s phenomenology emphasizes the concept of
intentionality, which posits that consciousness is always directed toward an object or
phenomenon. His method of epoché or bracketing involves suspending preconceived
judgments about the external world to focus purely on how phenomena appear to
consciousness (Husserl, 1970). This process aims to uncover the essential structures of
experience, free from assumptions or biases. Husserl’s approach is foundational
because it establishes phenomenology as a rigorous science of consciousness,
prioritizing subjective experience as the basis for understanding reality. His work,
particularly Ideas I (1913), laid the groundwork for subsequent phenomenological
developments across various disciplines.
Martin Heidegger: Extending Phenomenology to Existential Concerns
Martin Heidegger (1889–1976), a student of Husserl, significantly expanded
phenomenology by shifting its focus from consciousness to the question of Being. In his
seminal work Being and Time (1927), Heidegger introduced the concept of Dasein
(being-there), which describes human existence as inherently situated within a world of
meaning, relationships, and historical context (Heidegger, 1962). Unlike Husserl’s focus
on the structures of consciousness, Heidegger’s phenomenology explores being-in-the-
world, emphasizing how existence is shaped by practical engagement with the
environment. His existential approach critiques Husserl’s abstract methodology, arguing
that human experience cannot be isolated from its temporal and social dimensions.
Assignment 7
Phenomenology
Due 7 July 2025
, PDU3701
Assignment 7
Due Date: 7 July 2025
Phenomenology
Question 1: Two Philosophers Associated with Phenomenology
Edmund Husserl: The Founder of Phenomenology
Edmund Husserl (1859–1938) is widely recognized as the founder of phenomenology, a
philosophical method that seeks to explore the structures of conscious experience from
a first-person perspective. Husserl’s phenomenology emphasizes the concept of
intentionality, which posits that consciousness is always directed toward an object or
phenomenon. His method of epoché or bracketing involves suspending preconceived
judgments about the external world to focus purely on how phenomena appear to
consciousness (Husserl, 1970). This process aims to uncover the essential structures of
experience, free from assumptions or biases. Husserl’s approach is foundational
because it establishes phenomenology as a rigorous science of consciousness,
prioritizing subjective experience as the basis for understanding reality. His work,
particularly Ideas I (1913), laid the groundwork for subsequent phenomenological
developments across various disciplines.
Martin Heidegger: Extending Phenomenology to Existential Concerns
Martin Heidegger (1889–1976), a student of Husserl, significantly expanded
phenomenology by shifting its focus from consciousness to the question of Being. In his
seminal work Being and Time (1927), Heidegger introduced the concept of Dasein
(being-there), which describes human existence as inherently situated within a world of
meaning, relationships, and historical context (Heidegger, 1962). Unlike Husserl’s focus
on the structures of consciousness, Heidegger’s phenomenology explores being-in-the-
world, emphasizing how existence is shaped by practical engagement with the
environment. His existential approach critiques Husserl’s abstract methodology, arguing
that human experience cannot be isolated from its temporal and social dimensions.
