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A method of inquiry largely formulated by the German Edmund Husserl and later adapted by Alfred Schutz, phenomenological psychology is explained in this introductory study. It shows how phenomenology can be used in examining the reality of the world of everyday life, and how it provides an antidote to behaviorism, symbolic logic and other positivist systems.
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Phenomenology of Consciousness and Sociology of the Life-world This page intentionally left blank Phenomenology of Consciousness and Sociology of the Life-world AN INTRODUCTORY STUDY Helmut R. Wagner HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES The University of Alberta Press First published by The University of Alberta Press 450 Athabasca Hall The University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Copyright © The University of Alberta Press 1983 ISBN 0-88864-032-3 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Wagner, Helmut R. Phenomenology of consciousness and sociology of the life-world Bibliography: p. Includes index. ISBN 0-88864-032-3 1. Phenomenology.2. Social psychology. I. Title. B829.5.W33 142'. 7 C82-O91217-4 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright owner. Typesetting by The Typeworks, Mayne Island, British Columbia Printed by Hignell Printing Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba Design by Maher & Murtagh, Toronto, Ontario In Memory of Lore Wagner who shared with me an unforgettable summer in Alberta. It became the climax of my long teaching career; it brought us new and dear friends; and it let us experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. The foundations to this book were laid in this happy period. Lore contributed to it her ever-pertinent advice and her keen observations in personal exchanges with me and, most of all, in remarks and comments with which she brightened our informal encounters with students and faculty members. A part of her unusual personality lives on in this study. This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgements / xi 1. Introducing the Phenomenological Approach / 1 The genesis of the book / 1 The form of the book / 2 The content of the book / 5 2. Approach to a Phenomenology of Consciousness / 8 A Preliminary question: What is phenomenology? / 8 Outside and inside approaches / 11 The behaviourist approach / 11 Images of Man / 15 The solipsist dead end / 18 The phenomenological approach / 19 Language / 21 Phenomenology of consciousness / 26 Towards the understanding of inner experience / 26 BERGSON'S CONCEPTION OF INNER DURATION /28 JAMES'S CONCEPTION OF THE STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS/30 THE ELUSIVENESS OF INNER EXPERIENCE AND THE MEMORY ACCESS-LANE/33 TIME AND TIME-EXPERIENCE/34 Towards the comprehension of the phenomenological method / 37 GETTING AT I N N E R E X P E R I E N C E /37 A FALLACY AND A TRAP/39 Viii CONTENTS APPROACHING THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD: HUSSERL'S MODEL/40 PRESENTING INNER EXPERIENCE /45 CONFIRMING PHENOMENOLOGICAL DATA/46 THE LANGUAGE OF THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL PRESENTATION/49 Phenomenology of objects / 50 Perception, gestalt, apperception / 51 Experience and sensory impressions / 54 Intententionality / 56 Attention, interest, motivation / 57 The definition of the situation / 60 Vantage point / 64 Horizons / 66 Relevance / 68 The world of the phenomenologist and the world of everyone's experience / 71 3. Approach to the Social Self / 74 The fiction of the solitary Ego / 74 James's conception of the Self / 75 Cooley's "human nature" and social self / 77 Mead's genetic conception of the self / 79 Intersubjectivity / 84 We-relationship / 88 4. Approach to Social Life / 93 Experiencing the