Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 23:37:45 -0500
From: "Robert Karl Stonjek" 
To: evolutionary-psychology@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [evol-psych] Phenomenology


A good handle on issues in consciousness can be gained by
perusing the abstracts here:
  Consciousness Research Abstracts
  http://www.imprint-academic.demon.co.uk/T2000/CLASS.htm

Particularly the section on "Experiential Approaches", subsection
Phenomenology:
  http://www.imprint-academic.demon.co.uk/T2000/05-01.html

Dictionary Definitions should include the Oxford:-
phenomenology
[f. phenomenon + -logy.]
a. The science of phenomena as distinct from that of being
(ontology).
b. That division of any science which describes and classifies
its phenomena; in Philos., the theory, put forward by the German
philosopher Edmund Husserl (1859~1938) and his followers, to the
effect that the pure and transcendental nature and meaning of
phenomena, and hence their real and ultimate significance, can
only be apprehended subjectively; the method of reduction, based
by Husserl on Descartes's method, whereby all factual knowledge
and reasoned assumptions about the phenomenon as object and the
experiencing  ego' are set aside so that pure intuition of the
essence of the phenomenon may be rigorously analysed and studied.

Whilst you are familiar with the former definition (1), the later
(2) is the commonly used definition in cognitive science,
especially when dealing with consciousness, and psychology.  As
Evolutionary Psychology clearly has a foot in both camps, a
conflict of definitions is bound to follow.
Phenomenology in the study of consciousness is the discipline
which attempts to find a scientific method of probing the human
mind by using first person experience as the main tool of
investigation.  I have several books that cover the subject but
do not have access to my library at this time (will retire to the
workshop to continue gluing, sanding, and other activities
related to the construction of a large bookshelf capable of
storing all of my academic books/text books where they may
patiently awaited their turn to be stroked by my probing eyes).

I hope this revelation has not spoilt your day,

Kind Regards
Robert Karl Stonjek