A Brief Survey of the Phenomenology of Husserl and...

A Brief Survey of the Phenomenology of Husserl and Heidegger Introduction In general terms, phenomenology is a philosophy of experience. It attempts to understand how meaning is made in human experience, and it sees our lived experience of the world as the foundation of meaning. For phenomenology, how the speaking or writing subject uses language is primary both because it is how we experience its rules and conventions, in their use, and because this is the source of semantic innovation. New meaning, novelty in the world, and the possibility of a future different from the past are some of phenomenologys defining values. In this paper I will be sketching a brief survey of the phenomenology of Husserl and Heidegger. Husserls†¦show more content†¦Evidence is the source of law or test of all human knowledge. The validity of experience as meaningful knowledge rests on the fact of evidence. Whenever philosophical findings are presented as meaningful knowledge, they must be the expression of compelling obviousness. Evidence implies that an entity presents itself to the knowing cognition of man in such a way that it can be looked at in a direct and immediate manner and be regarded as meaningful. Evidence originates when a given, in its disclosure, is experienced as sense by the human soul, by means of an immediate intuition or observation. The correlation between intuition and the given in its disclosure, constitutes the experience called evidence, and is therefore a composite factor of evidence (Theron, 1995). 2. The Concept of Phenomenon Husserl calls the given in its immediate disclosure the phenomenon. Derived from the Greek verb phainomaf, it means to show visibility or to become visible. Phenomenon therefore suggests that which is disclosed, is shown, which is evident. The term Phenomenology was derived from this concept. Philosophy must broach the given or variable in its reality by means of Phenomenology. Husserls call to go back to the phenomenon has dual significance: i. First of all, the common methodological demand is put to philosophy - the demand of the greatest possible impartiality in approaching the