Do What? Phenomenology!!

As I tried to read the readings in preparation for class I was lost to say the least. I didn't even really try to read the word... I thought "WHAT?"... that's a big word. "Let me break out my dictionary again to read my assignments." The dictionary seems to be my friend these days.

What is "Phenomenology"?...

"a philosophy or method based on the premise that reality consists of objects and events as they are perceived or understood in human consciousness and not of anything independent of human consciousness" www.answers.com/topic/phenomenology

Again, I'm not sure if that really helped.

When we started discussing the topic of phenomenology in class our professor asked what we thought... I piped up... "I 'think' I like the idea... but just not sure why!". By the end of class I had a better understanding of the theory and why I "liked" it ... I think!

So lets break it down...

• Phenomenology is an observable event. It is something that can be perceived of sensed. For example, Dr. Chapin used an interesting example, she laid three markers on the table and asked "Are you experiencing the number three? No, the experience is the markers."
• According to phenomenology we only know things through our own experiences not anyone else's. In other words, it I have not had the experience of climbing a mountain... climbing a mountain does not exist for me. Even if my friend gives me a graphic account of her mountain climbing experience it is not real for me.
• Phenomenology seeks to describe events/experiences rather than explain them. This is somewhat comforting. It allows everybody's individual truths to be true without qualifying them in any way.

So what did I "like"? I liked that in order to study phenomenology you must assume you know nothing and that all your understanding is only what the person tells you abut their experiences. This approach has a term in phenomenology... epoche'. This is quite difficult for us to do... to put aside all of your judgements, opinions, thought desires, etc. in order to hear.

As it relates to interior design, we must always consider the desires, opinions and thoughts of our clients. We can no longer assume that an intimate romantic space means candles and flowers. We must take it another step and ask... "What does intimate and romantic mean to YOU?".