PDU3701
Assignment 3 (ESSAY)
DUE July 2025
, Assignment 3
Question 1: Philosophers associated with Phenomenology
i. Edmund Husserl is regarded as the founder of Phenomenology. He
introduced the idea of exploring consciousness and experience by “bracketing” or
suspending assumptions, allowing phenomena to be studied as they appear to
the individual.
ii. Martin Heidegger, a student of Husserl, extended phenomenology by focusing
on the existential nature of being.
Question 2: FIVE characteristics of Phenomenology
i. Focus on Lived Experience
Phenomenology places emphasis on individuals’ direct, lived experiences rather
than abstract theories or external observations. It seeks to understand how
people experience the world subjectively.
ii. Intentionality of Consciousness
A core principle of phenomenology is that consciousness is always intentional it
is always directed toward something. This means that every act of consciousness
involves an object of focus, whether real or imagined.
iii. Bracketing (Epoché)
Phenomenology involves suspending judgment about the natural world and prior
knowledge, a process known as bracketing. This allows researchers or
philosophers to view phenomena purely as they appear to consciousness,
without bias or assumption.
iv. Description over Explanation
Rather than trying to explain or analyse phenomena using scientific or causal
reasoning, phenomenology is primarily concerned with describing experiences in
rich, detailed, and faithful ways.
Assignment 3 (ESSAY)
DUE July 2025
, Assignment 3
Question 1: Philosophers associated with Phenomenology
i. Edmund Husserl is regarded as the founder of Phenomenology. He
introduced the idea of exploring consciousness and experience by “bracketing” or
suspending assumptions, allowing phenomena to be studied as they appear to
the individual.
ii. Martin Heidegger, a student of Husserl, extended phenomenology by focusing
on the existential nature of being.
Question 2: FIVE characteristics of Phenomenology
i. Focus on Lived Experience
Phenomenology places emphasis on individuals’ direct, lived experiences rather
than abstract theories or external observations. It seeks to understand how
people experience the world subjectively.
ii. Intentionality of Consciousness
A core principle of phenomenology is that consciousness is always intentional it
is always directed toward something. This means that every act of consciousness
involves an object of focus, whether real or imagined.
iii. Bracketing (Epoché)
Phenomenology involves suspending judgment about the natural world and prior
knowledge, a process known as bracketing. This allows researchers or
philosophers to view phenomena purely as they appear to consciousness,
without bias or assumption.
iv. Description over Explanation
Rather than trying to explain or analyse phenomena using scientific or causal
reasoning, phenomenology is primarily concerned with describing experiences in
rich, detailed, and faithful ways.
