Phenomenology: An Introduction

by Stephan Käufer

This comprehensive new book introduces the core history of phenomenology and assesses its relevance to contemporary psychology, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science. From critiques of artificial intelligence research programs to ongoing work on embodiment and enactivism, the authors trace how phenomenology has produced a valuable framework for analyzing cognition and perception, whose impact on contemporary psychological and scientific research, and philosophical debates continues to grow. The first part of An Introduction to Phenomenology is an extended overview of the history and development of phenomenology, looking at its key thinkers, focusing particularly on Husserl, Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty, as well as its cultural and intellectual precursors. In the second half Chemero and Käufer turn their attention to the contemporary interpretations and uses of phenomenology in cognitive science, showing that phenomenology is a living source of inspiration in contemporary interdisciplinary studies of the mind. Käufer and Chemero have written a clear, jargon-free account of phenomenology, providing abundant examples and anecdotes to illustrate and to entertain. This book is an ideal introduction to phenomenology and cognitive science for the uninitiated, as well as for philosophy and psychology students keen to deepen their knowledge.

Genres: Philosophy, Neuroscience, Nonfiction, Psychology

247 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 26, 2015

Reviews

[Seymour Millen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile and brief introduction to the field of embodied cognition, and Chemero and Käufer’s preferred perspective on the topic (which I broadly share, to clarify). It’s a bit too short and limited in its references to count as an introduction to phenomenology (8 or so particular writers with about 20 pages or less each- Kant gets packed into 10 pages) but as a primer for students looking at embodied cognition it’s very useful. Very clearly written, very concise. If it lacks context for some work as the price of that concision, the book is good at providing signposts for further reading. Philosophy and psychology have been suffering from a messy separation for quite few years now, and this is a welcome attempt to start the two talking once more.

[Tiago F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've become increasingly fascinated with phenomenology whenever I found it, and I felt it was worth dedicating some time to it. Phenomenology is generally considered to start with Husserl in the 1890s, and it's still practiced today.

The book starts with Kant's philosophy, because it is the background into each phenomenology is born, and what many of the earlier thinkers were critiquing or trying to improve. Then it moves on to the "first" phenomenologist: Edmund Husserl. This sets the entire tone for what the book will be, and most of the field relies on Husserl's insights over 100 years ago.

Then the book moves to Heidegger and his existential phenomenology. The deals with the intelligibility of the everyday world, the misguided cognitivism of Descartes, Being-in-the-world, the existential conception of the self, and finally themes like death, guilt, and authenticity. I somewhat liked that the book wasn't afraid to occasionally deviate from pure phenomenology to the general philosophy of its thinkers, which while perhaps not a foundation to the topic, it's nevertheless connected and dependent upon it.

After Heidegger, it moves to gestalt psychology. The was a movement that attempts to emphasize the notion of emergence and how the "the whole is more than the sum of its parts". We perceive patterns and not just individual sensations. This was a movement against atomistic psychology, and it greatly influenced Maurice Merleau-Ponty, who along with Husserl, is likely the most influential phenomenologist. It starts with his work on perception, which is what he focused on the most. He shows how perception isn't just passive reception of information, but already comes "pre-packaged" with meaning. It's anti-representationalist (going against Kant), and shows that we perceive the world according to its utility. Afterward, it touches on Jean-Paul Sartre with his phenomenological existentialism and James Gibson's ecological psychology.

It finishes with Hubert Dreyfus' work and phenomenological cognitive science. This was my favorite part, and it ended the book nicely. Dreyfus argued against the cognitive revolution within cognitive science, neglecting the insights of phenomenology. This was especially relevant as it was the start of artificial intelligence, and Dreyfus successfully argued the cause of the massive failure of the field by wrongful thinking of "mind" as basic rule-based computation. Regarding cognitive science, it touches on the frame problem that plagues AI, and then some phenomenologically inspired subfields of cognitive science, like radical embodied cognitive science and dynamical system theories. This was delightful to read, especially because it puts phenomenology into such a practical use, and it's a clear example of philosophy directly guiding scientific understanding. It's how odd how there is even "Heideggerian" cognitive science, and how that can help us understand how to develop intelligent and human-like agents, by abandoning the cognitivist approach but instead emphasizing the world of the body and how the world manifests itself by its meaning and utility.

Overall I found the book very well written. Although at times difficult, the book is generally accessible, and no heavy background is needed. I felt each chapter had an appropriate length, and most of the time I dived into the appropriate amount of depth. I only missed a summary chapter at the end. It just ended abruptly. Concluding the book and connecting all the dots that were explored throughout the history of phenomenology would be tremendously helpful. I would it is introduced to the next edition.

[Flemming Funch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to get into phenomenology, but the writing of some of the main guys can be pretty impenetrable. This book builds it up beautifully and makes it clear what they each were about, how their views were similar and different from each other, and where it all leads. I think I'm much more prepared to read Merleau-Ponty or Heidegger now. And this is an excellent background for and lead-in to Enactivism, which I already had started studying.

[Virginia MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a wonderful historical overview of the philosophical movement known as phenomenology. I got interested in phenomenology because of its influence on work in Embodied Cognition. Two of my favorite chapters in the book are the one about Maurice Merleau-Ponty and the one entitled "Phenomenological Cognitive Science."

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laudable attempt to bring together the theories of the key phenomenologists and relate them to current thinking in embodied cognition.

[Julio R. Ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent recap of several theories of phenomenology, starting with Kant and Wundt, and ending with enactivism and radical cog sci embodiment. Absolutely a must read summary of about 100 years of history.

[Chant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will use this text for any introductory lectures on embodied cognition and phenomenology! Very accessible and does a better summarizing Husserl and Merleau-Ponty, so very helpful to help jog one’s memory.