Phenomenon (Kant's philosophy)

A phenomenon (Greek: φαινόμενo, plural: φαινόμενα) is an observable event, particularly something special (literally, something that can be seen).

Kant's use of "phenomenon"

"Phenomenon" has a specialized meaning in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant who contrasted the term "phenomenon" with "noumenon" in the Critique of Pure Reason. Phenomena constitute the world as we experience it, as opposed to the world as it exists independently of our experiences (the thing-in-itself, "das Ding an sich"). Humans cannot, according to Kant, know things-in-themselves, only things as we experience them. Thus philosophy – the term "philosophy" in Kant's day serving as the approximate equivalent of what is today called "science" – should concern itself with understanding phenomena.

The concept of "phenomena" led to a tradition of philosophy called phenomenology. Leading figures in phenomenology include Hegel, Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Derrida.

Kant's account of phenomena has also been understood as influential in the development of psychodynamic models of psychology, and of theories concerning the ways in which the brain, mind and external world interact.

General sense

In general, apart from its specialized use as a term in philosophy, "phenomenon" stands for any observable event. Phenomena make up the raw data of science. It was an attempt to explain phenomena like earthquakes, lightning, rain, fire, sunrise, thunderstorm, rusting that led to the development of modern science. Phenomena are often exploited by technology.

It is possible to list the phenomena which are relevant to almost any field of endeavor. For example, in the case of optics and light one can list observable phenomena under the topic optical phenomenon.

The possibilities are many, for example:

• Anomalous phenomenon (parapsychology)
• Biological phenomenon
• Chemical phenomenon (chemistry)
• Electrical phenomenon (electricity)
• Electronic Voice Phenomenon
• Geological phenomenon (geology)
• Hydrological phenomenon (hydrology)
• Meteorological phenomenon (weather)
• Optical phenomenon (optics)
• Physical phenomenon (physics)
• Social phenomenon (sociology)
• Statistical phenomena (statistics)
• Thermal phenomenon (thermodynamics)

Some observable events are commonplace, others require delicate manipulation of expensive and sensitive equipment. Some are significant experiments which led to groundbreaking discoveries.

There is a class of phenomena which lie outside generally accepted knowledge which knowledgeable scientists tend to discount. They are collected and discussed under the name "anomalous phenomena".

Colloquial or casual use

In casual usage, "phenomenon" is often taken to mean a "surprising development" or "unusually successful person".[1] [2] [3].

See also

• Phenomenalism
• Existentialism

Quotations

• "No phenomenon is a phenomenon until it is an observed phenomenon" Niels Bohr.
• "Scientific theory is a contrived foothold in the chaos of living phenomena." Wilhelm Reich
• "To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books without patients is not to go to sea at all." Sir William Osler
• "If we knew all the laws of Nature, we should need only fact, or the description of one actual phenomenon, to infer all the particular results at that point." Henry David Thoreau

External links

• phenomenon.org

This article was originally based on, and may contain material from, the Wikipedia entry with this title.