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Phenomenological Method of Investigation
Jul 20, 2024
Phenomenological Method of Investigation
Characterizing the Object of Investigation
Focus: The being of entities or the meaning of being in general
Task of ontology: Explain being itself and make the being of entities stand out clearly
Method remains questionable if reliant on historical ontologies
Ontology: Not a predefined philosophical discipline
Objective: Develop a discipline based on specific questions and treatment required by the subjects themselves
Importance of Phenomenology
Fundamental question of philosophy must be treated phenomenologically
Phenomenology: Not a standpoint or direction, but a methodological conception
Signifies the 'how' of philosophical research, not the 'what'
Maxim: "To the things themselves"
Opposed to free-floating constructions, accidental findings, and pseudo-questions
Concept of Phenomenon
Greek origin: Derived from verb "phainesthai" (to show itself)
Means "that which shows itself," the manifest
Different ways entities can show themselves:
Seeming
: When an entity shows itself as something it is not
Positive and primordial signification of phenomenon: "That which shows itself in itself"
Appearance
vs.
Phenomenon
:
Appearance involves announcing itself through something that shows itself
Phenomenon is the 'showing itself' while appearing is 'announcing itself'
Misunderstanding of the concept of phenomenon can lead to critique of phenomenology
Concept of Logos
Logos: Word/discourse
Many significations: Reason, judgment, concept, definition, ground, or relationship
Aristotle: Discourse as "apophansis" (letting something be seen)
Function of logos: Making manifest what the discourse is about
Logos allows for synthesis (letting something be seen in its togetherness, by someone, with something)
Truth of logos: Making entities unconcealed
Falsehood of logos: Covering up or deceiving
The genuine perception of entities (truth) is more primordial than the logos
Concepts of perceiving and making visible (in basic sense) laid out by Aristotle and ancient Greek philosophy
Preliminary Conception of Phenomenology
Inner relationship between 'phenomenon' and 'logos'
Phenomenology: Descriptive, avoids characterizing anything without demonstration
Science of phenomena: Grasp objects by exhibiting and demonstrating directly
Focus on things that show themselves
Phenomenology as the Method of Ontology
Phenomenology helps in accessing and giving precision to themes of ontology
Different ways phenomena can be covered up:
Undiscovered: Neither known nor unknown
Buried over: Previously discovered but now covered up
Disguising: Misleading semblance
Needs to uncover the original meaning of phenomena to study being
Science of Being
Existential Analytic
: Showing the being of entities, particularly design
Law and time as fundamental aspects
Broken into different parts, main focus on temporality and historical context
Necessity of not confusing the ordinary and phenomenological conception of phenomena
Distinguishing Existential Analytic from other disciplines
Anthropology, psychology, biology fail to grasp the ontological question adequately
Primordial understanding and differentiation needed
Philosophy must proceed analytically to grasp the essence of being
Aiming for a Natural Conception of the World
Etching out ontological structures of design
Avoiding biased interpretations by considering primitive and everyday aspects distinctively
Philosophical Relevance
Aim: Grasp entities not just in narrating their properties but understanding their being
Clarifying preconceived notions about fundamental ontology and shaping future ontological inquiries
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