9º ano | Filosofia | O conhecimento para Husserl e Kierkegaard | Aula 01

Summary

This video lecture introduces the concept of phenomenology, as developed by Edmund Husserl. The lecturer explains how phenomenology focuses on the direct experience of individuals, emphasizing the intentionality of consciousness—meaning that consciousness is always directed toward something. The method challenges both rationalist and empiricist perspectives by asserting that humans assign meaning to the world rather than merely observing it. An example involving a group of children playing soccer with an orange illustrates how phenomenology helps us understand how we actively give significance to everyday experiences. Ultimately, the lecture showcases phenomenology as a method for understanding how we interpret and make sense of the world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Phenomenology is a method of knowledge introduced by Edmund Husserl that emphasizes examining experiences without preconceived notions.
• 😀 The first principle of phenomenology is that there is no pre-determined external world, and reality is shaped by how we experience it.
• 😀 Mathematical operations, unlike empirical experiences, do not rely on sensory input but remain precise and objective, highlighting the abstract nature of phenomenological analysis.
• 😀 Husserl's phenomenology challenges both rationalism (which separates consciousness from the world) and empiricism (which suggests we only understand the world through sensory data).
• 😀 Phenomenology focuses on how consciousness is always directed towards something, a concept known as 'intentionality'—meaning that we always experience the world through a lens of intention and meaning.
• 😀 Consciousness is never purely separate from the world; it is always 'conscious of' something, reflecting the interconnection between the self and the world.
• 😀 Phenomenology suggests that we actively contribute to the meaning of the world rather than passively receiving knowledge from it.
• 😀 The term 'phenomenology' derives from the Greek words 'phenomenon' (what appears) and 'logos' (study), focusing on how things present themselves to consciousness.
• 😀 An example of phenomenology in practice: a group of children playing soccer with an orange, showing how objects can gain new meanings through our experiences.
• 😀 The essence of phenomenology is that we give meaning to the world through our conscious experiences, turning ordinary objects into something meaningful depending on our intentions and actions.

Q & A

What is phenomenology as described in the script?

Phenomenology is a philosophical method that investigates the phenomena of experience. It involves examining how we experience the world and placing aside all preliminary assumptions, including the assumption of an external world.

Who is Edmund Husserl and what is his contribution to phenomenology?

Edmund Husserl is a key philosopher who developed phenomenology. His work emphasizes that consciousness is always directed at something (intentionality), and he proposed that we must suspend all preconceived notions to examine our direct experience of the world.

What does the term 'intentionality' mean in phenomenology?

In phenomenology, intentionality refers to the idea that consciousness is always directed at something. Every act of consciousness involves an intention to understand or relate to something outside itself, meaning that we cannot have pure consciousness separated from the world.

How does phenomenology differ from rationalism and empiricism?

Phenomenology differs from rationalism, which holds that consciousness exists independently of the world (as in Descartes' idea 'I think, therefore I am'), and from empiricism, which believes that knowledge is derived from the external world. Phenomenology asserts that while we need the world, we actively interpret and assign meaning to it.

What is the significance of the example with the group of children and the orange?

The example illustrates how phenomenology works in real life. When a group of children play football with a fallen orange, they give new meaning to the orange, turning it from a simple fruit into an object for a game. This shows how humans actively assign meaning to the world through their experiences.

What role does experience play in phenomenology?

In phenomenology, experience is crucial because it is through our experiences that we interpret and assign meaning to the world. The method encourages a careful and patient examination of these experiences to understand how we perceive and make sense of the world around us.

Why does phenomenology reject the idea of a pre-determined world?

Phenomenology rejects the notion of a pre-determined world because it asserts that the world is not something fixed and external, but something that we actively engage with and interpret. The meaning of the world is not given to us but is created through our conscious acts.

What is meant by the 'consciousness of something' in phenomenology?

In phenomenology, 'consciousness of something' means that every act of consciousness is always about something—whether it’s a thought, perception, or feeling. Consciousness is never passive or detached but is always directed towards something external or internal, giving it purpose and meaning.

How does phenomenology challenge the views of Descartes and John Locke?

Phenomenology challenges Descartes' rationalism by rejecting the idea of pure consciousness independent of the world. It also critiques John Locke’s empiricism, which suggests that knowledge comes solely from objects in the world, by asserting that the objects of knowledge are always interpreted by a conscious subject who assigns them meaning.

What does the script suggest is the relationship between humans and the world according to phenomenology?

According to phenomenology, humans are conscious beings who do not passively observe the world but actively engage with it. We assign meaning to the world through our consciousness, which is always intentional, aiming to make sense of what appears to us.