Phenomenology as Critique: Why Method Matters

This book explores the methodological themes in phenomenological discussions of acute social and political problems, drawing on classical Husserlian resources as well as existentialist and hermeneutical approaches. It demonstrates that phenomenology offers critical resources to tackle timely issues of social injustice, such as phenomenology as critique, radical reflection, eidetic analysis, immanent critique, self-reflective dimensions, and phenomenological analysis and self-transformation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Drawing on classical Husserlian resources as well as existentialist and hermeneutical approaches, this book argues that critique is largely a question of method. It demonstrates that phenomenological discussions of acute social and political problems draw from a rich tradition of radically critical investigations in epistemology, social ontology, political theory, and ethics. The contributions show that contemporary phenomenological investigations of various forms of oppression and domination develop new critical-analytical tools that complement those of competing theoretical approaches, such as analytics of power, critical theory, and liberal philosophy of justice. More specifically, the chapters pay close attention to the following methodological themes: the conditions for the possibility of phenomenology as critique; critique as radical reflection and free thinking; eidetic analysis and reflection of transcendental facticity and contingency of the self, of others, of the world; phenomenology and immanent critique; the self-reflective dimensions of phenomenology; and phenomenological analysis and self-transformation and world transformation. All in all, the book explicates the multiple critical resources phenomenology has to offer, precisely in virtue of its distinctive methods and methodological commitments, and thus shows its power in tackling timely issues of social injustice.

Phenomenology as Critique: Why Method Matters will appeal to researchers and advanced students working in phenomenology, Continental philosophy, and critical theory.

Epistemology, social ontology, political theory, and ethics are just a few of the disciplines that have been the subject of phenomenological studies that are extremely critical of society and politics. This book makes the case that phenomenology is primarily concerned with method and that phenomenological discussions of pressing social and political issues draw on a long history of critically investigating these fields. The book also demonstrates how contemporary phenomenological studies of various forms of oppression and domination develop new critical-analytical tools that complement those of competing theoretical approaches, such as analytics of power, critical theory, and liberal philosophy of justice.

The book's chapters closely examine a number of methodological issues, including the prerequisites for phenomenology as critique, critique as radical reflection and free thinking, eidetic analysis and reflection of transcendental facticity and contingency of the self, of others, of the world, phenomenology and immanent critique, the self-reflective dimensions of phenomenology, and phenomenological analysis and self-transformation and world transformation. The book demonstrates phenomenology's ability to address pressing social injustice issues by explicating the numerous critical resources that phenomenology has to offer, particularly because of its distinctive methods and methodological commitments.

In conclusion, Phenomenology as Critique: Why Method Matters is a valuable contribution to the field of phenomenology and critical theory. It provides a comprehensive and insightful examination of the methodological issues involved in phenomenological research and demonstrates the power of phenomenology in addressing timely issues of social injustice. The book will appeal to researchers and advanced students working in phenomenology, Continental philosophy, and critical theory.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032043326