摘要：This paper tries to convey to readers not already immersed in the tradition, some of the types of phenomena of concern to phenomenologists as well as some of their approaches and techniques. Hopefully, the descriptions that follow will help general readers gain access to phenomenological readings by making a somewhat exotic language more amenable to interpretation. This approach has certain consequences which must be stated. First, phenomenology has no common perspective and it is not unreasonable to claim that there are ‘various’ phenomenologies.1 Therefore, such a perspective as will be displayed stands as an approximate construct for illustrative purposes only. Furthermore, my own style of writing is so assertive in character that a reader will almost inevitably start assessing the truth of propositions, the validity of critiques, the political consequences of ideological positions, and so on. This is trouble. For one construes phenomenology as an epistemological theory only at the risk of grave misunderstanding. It is more a general approach to understanding and certain ways of looking at things. Thus, as one reads a sentence that seems like an assertion, it is best to avoid asking oneself immediately, ‘Is this valid?’ It would be better to inquire how phenomenologists evaluate their own claims, and try to answer, ‘What does validity consist of?’ from their viewpoint. More generally, phenomenological writings discuss perceptions and insights not easily describable in ordinary language. Therefore, I ask you to query the1 However, this paper explores the phenomenology, and the phenomenological reduction, as initiated by Edmund Husserl. forthcoming discussion predominantly with the question: ‘What could he be talking about?’
