Merleau-Ponty, Hegel, and the Task of Phenomenological Explanation

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-52
Author(s):  
Dimitris Apostolopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Philosophical Methodology ◽  
Circular Structure ◽  
Phenomenological Reflection ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology

This paper provides an analysis of Merleau-Ponty’s view of philosophical explanation. Some commentators stress his indebtedness to the transcendental tradition, but this influence does not extend to his viewof explanation. I argue that Merleau-Ponty gives up on the transcendental ideal of explanatory completeness, shared by Husserl and Kant. Motivated by a distinctive understanding of transcendental expression, he argues that phenomenological reflection, and the explanations that issue from it, must both have a circular structure if they are to provide a persuasive account of experience. This circular view of phenomenological methodology is further developed in later texts, which stress the openness and incompleteness of both reflection and explanation. Merleau-Ponty’s reliance on the concept of circularity testifies to the increasing importance of Hegel for his viewof phenomenological explanation and philosophical methodology.

Social workers’ use of critical reflection

2021 ◽  
pp. 146801732110102
Author(s):  
Akin Taiwo
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Direct Practice ◽  
The Social ◽  
Van Manen ◽  
Phenomenological Reflection ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology

Summary This article explores critical reflection as practiced by social workers in the context of their personal and professional privilege. It was found that social workers in direct practice were not invested in critical reflection about oppressive discourses in their consciousness when interacting with clients. Rather, critical reflection often happened in times of crises or when social workers encountered difficult client situations. Using the phenomenological methodology of Van Manen and the social constructionist perspective, I present and discuss the findings of a qualitative study of semi-structured interviews with 20 social workers in direct practice. Findings Data analysis indicated that critical reflection is not a priority for direct practice social workers in the context of privilege. Three themes are identified: (1) No time for reflection, (2) Fear of reflection, and (3) Too much reflection. Nevertheless, social workers were still able to reflect alone, with colleagues and with supervisors, and they outlined the benefits of reflection. Applications Social work agencies should provide infrastructure for reflection, create an atmosphere for workers to freely discuss challenges and difficulties, and reduce their fear of reprisals from management. This article broadens the idea of phenomenological reflection by Van Manen.

Phenomenological Methodology

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Mertens
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Phenomenological Method ◽  
Natural Attitude ◽  
Transcendental Subjectivity ◽  
Phenomenology Of Perception ◽  
Phenomenological Reflection ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology

This chapter discusses how the methodological self-understanding outlined in Husserl’s early writings changes in later stages of the Phenomenological Movement. The discussion is guided by Merleau-Ponty’s short remarks in the preface of his Phenomenology of Perception about the ambiguity of the phenomenological method. Against this background, it is shown that the critical examination of the possibility of phenomenological reflection and the explanation of the idea of intentionality lead to relevant modifications and revisions of the initial assumptions concerning the phenomenological method. Particularly, the phenomenological concepts of the a priori, transcendental subjectivity, constitution, and descriptive analysis should be modified by considering the relevance of opposing aspects binding the phenomenological reflection also to facticity, the natural attitude, our life-world, and constructive moments. In addition, it is argued that the phenomenological task of offering an investigation of originary experience as a pre-linguistic and subjective experience should also be revised.

Aboutness

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Yablo
Keyword(s):  
Subject Matter ◽  
Philosophy Of Language ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Philosophical Methodology ◽  
Major Advance ◽  
Truth Conditions ◽  
Ways Of Being ◽  
Made In

Aboutness has been studied from any number of angles. Brentano made it the defining feature of the mental. Phenomenologists try to pin down the aboutness features of particular mental states. Materialists sometimes claim to have grounded aboutness in natural regularities. Attempts have even been made, in library science and information theory, to operationalize the notion. However, it has played no real role in philosophical semantics, which is surprising. This is the first book to examine through a philosophical lens the role of subject matter in meaning. A long-standing tradition sees meaning as truth conditions, to be specified by listing the scenarios in which a sentence is true. Nothing is said about the principle of selection—about what in a scenario gets it onto the list. Subject matter is the missing link here. A sentence is true because of how matters stand where its subject matter is concerned. This book maintains that this is not just a feature of subject matter, but its essence. One indicates what a sentence is about by mapping out logical space according to its changing ways of being true or false. The notion of content that results—directed content—is brought to bear on a range of philosophical topics, including ontology, verisimilitude, knowledge, loose talk, assertive content, and philosophical methodology. The book represents a major advance in semantics and the philosophy of language.

Collingwood and Russell on Philosophical Method

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
Timothy C. Lord
Keyword(s):  
History Of Philosophy ◽  
Philosophical Methodology ◽  
Philosophical Method ◽  
Dialectical Method ◽  
Logical Atomism ◽  
History Of

Collingwood’s An Essay on Philosophical Method provides an insightful critique of Russell’s analysis and metaphysics of logical atomism, proposing an unduly neglected neo-idealist alternative to Russell’s philosophical method. I summarize Collingwood’s critique of analysis and sympathetically outline the philosophical methodology of Collingwood’s post-Hegelian dialectical method: his scale of forms methodology, grounded on the overlap of philosophical classes. I then delineate Collingwood’s critique of the metaphysics of logical atomism, demonstrating how the scale of forms methodology is opposed to Russell’s logical atomism. Finally, I reflect on the reasons Collingwood’s Essay aroused little interest upon publication and the importance of continually rethinking the history of philosophy.

scholarly journals Hypersensitized Metamaterials Based on a Corona-Shaped Resonator for Efficient Detection of Glucose

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Yadgar I. Abdulkarim ◽  
Fahmi F. Muhammadsharif ◽  
Mehmet Bakır ◽  
Halgurd N. Awl ◽  
Muharrem Karaaslan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resonance Frequency ◽  
Glucose Concentration ◽  
Electromagnetic Waves ◽  
Surface Current ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Efficient Detection ◽  
Circular Structure ◽  
Clear Shift ◽  
Current Electric Field

In this work, a new design for a real-time noninvasive metamaterial sensor, based on a corona-shaped resonator, is proposed. The sensor was designed numerically and fabricated experimentally in order to be utilized for efficient detection of glucose in aqueous solutions such as water and blood. The sensor was inspired by a corona in-plane-shaped design with the presumption that its circular structure might produce a broader interaction of the electromagnetic waves with the glucose samples. A clear shift in the resonance frequency was observed for various glucose samples, which implies that the proposed sensor has a good sensitivity and can be easily utilized to distinguish any glucose concentration, even though their dielectric coefficients are close. Results showed a superior performance in terms of resonance frequency shift (1.51 GHz) and quality factor (246) compared to those reported in the literature. The transmission variation level ∆|S21| was investigated for glucose concentration in both water and blood. The sensing mechanism was elaborated through the surface current, electric field and magnetic field distributions on the corona resonator. The proposed metamaterials sensor is considered to be a promising candidate for biosensor and medicine applications in human glycaemia monitoring.

scholarly journals Free to be: Experiences of arts-based relational caring in a community living and thriving with dementia

Dementia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 147130122110270
Author(s):  
Christine Jonas-Simpson ◽  
Gail Mitchell ◽  
Sherry Dupuis ◽  
Lesley Donovan ◽  
Pia Kontos
Keyword(s):  
Ethic Of Care ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Creative Arts ◽  
Support Worker ◽  
Personal Support ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Van Manen ◽  
Phenomenological Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological

Aim To present findings about experiences of relational caring at an arts-based academy for persons living with dementia. Background There is a compelling call and need for connection and relationships in communities living with dementia. This study shares what is possible when a creative arts-based academy for persons living with dementia grounded in relational inquiry and caring focuses on relationships through the medium of the arts. Design A qualitative phenomenological methodology (informed by van Manen) was used to answer the research question, “What is it like to experience relational caring at an arts-based academy for persons living with dementia?” We address two research objectives: (1) to explore how relationships are experienced when a relational caring philosophy underpins practice, including arts-based engagements; and (2) to understand the meaning of relationships that bring quality to day-to-day living. Methods Twenty-five participants were recruited from the Academy and interviewed in one-to-one in-depth interviews or small groups. Participants included five persons living with dementia, eight family members, four staff, five artists, one personal support worker, and two volunteers. Participants were asked to describe their experiences of relational caring or relationships in the Academy space. Findings Three thematic patterns emerged, which address the research objectives. Relational caring is experienced when: freedom and fluid engagement inspire a connected spontaneous liveliness; embracing difference invites discovery and generous inclusivity; and mutual affection brings forth trust and genuine expression. Conclusions Findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge about both relational caring and arts-based practices that call forth a different ethic of care—one that is relational, inclusive, and intentional. Findings also shed light on what is possible when a relational caring philosophy underpins arts-based practices—everyone thrives.

scholarly journals Adopting the Situation in School Questionnaire to Examine Physical Education Teachers’ Motivating and Demotivating Styles Using a Circumplex Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7342
Author(s):  
Géraldine Escriva-Boulley ◽  
Emma Guillet-Descas ◽  
Nathalie Aelterman ◽  
Maarten Vansteenkiste ◽  
Nele Van Doren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Autonomy Support ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Structure Control ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Circular Structure ◽  
Need Support ◽  
Academic Courses

Grounded in SDT, several studies have highlighted the role of teachers’ motivating and demotivating styles for students’ motivation, learning, and physical activity in physical education (PE). However, most of these studies focused on a restricted number of motivating strategies (e.g., offering choice) or dimensions (e.g., autonomy support). Recently, researchers have developed the Situations-in-School (i.e., SIS-Education) questionnaire, which allows one to gain a more integrative and fine-grained insight into teachers’ engagement in autonomy-support, structure, control, and chaos through a circular structure (i.e., a circumplex). Although teaching in PE resembles teaching in academic courses in many ways, some of the items of the original situation-based questionnaire (e.g., regarding homework) are irrelevant to the PE context. In the present study, we therefore sought to develop a modified, PE-friendly version of this earlier validated SIS-questionnaire—the SIS-PE. Findings in a sample of Belgian (N = 136) and French (N = 259) PE teachers, examined together and as independent samples, showed that the variation in PE teachers’ motivating styles in this adapted version is also best captured by a circumplex structure, with four overarching styles and eight subareas differing in their level of need support and directiveness. The SIS-PE possesses excellent convergent and concurrent validity. With the adaptations being successful, great opportunities for future research on PE teachers (de-)motivating styles are created.

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