The practice of phenomenology: The case of Max van Manen

Abstract

Since its inception, phenomenological philosophy has exerted an influence on empirical science. But what is the best way to practice, use and apply phenomenology in a non‐philosophical context? How deeply rooted in phenomenological philosophy must qualitative research be in order to qualify as phenomenological? How many of the core commitments of phenomenology must it accept? In the following contribution, I will take a closer look at Max van Manen's work. I will argue that van Manen's understanding of and presentation of phenomenology is quite problematic and that his book Phenomenology of Practice rather than amounting to a clear and accessible presentation of the phenomenological method that would make it do‐able to researchers who are not themselves professional philosophers is in fact both abstruse and excessively complicated. I will then turn to nursing, and by taking that as my example, outline a better way to apply and practice phenomenology.

A Phenomenological Paradigm for Empirical Research in Psychiatry and Psychology: Open Questions

“…Phenomenology has been applied in empirical research not only in psychiatry and psychology, but also in other healthcare-related disciplines, such as nursing studies ( Zahavi and Martiny, 2019 ). Nevertheless, the different forms in which phenomenology has been applied in these disciplines have been also controversial due to their divergence from the original Husserlian philosophical method ( Zahavi, 2019b , d ). For instance, some have questioned whether the method of analysis proposed by Giorgi (2009 , 2012) , “descriptive phenomenological psychological method,” should be considered “phenomenological” or given another label.…”

Embodiment and Objectification in Illness and Health Care: Taking Phenomenology from Theory to Practice

“…However, as Zahavi has argued, many of these adaptations are founded in inaccurate interpretations of the phenomenological method (Zahavi, 2019). For this reason, he suggests that qualitative researchers instead draw on phenomenology's theoretical and conceptual foundations, rather than its methods (Zahavi, 2020).…”

“…These phenomenologically informed qualitative studies provide insight into the experiences of particular populations. But they can also expand and revise our philosophical understandings of embodied experience (Zahavi, 2020; Zahavi & Martiny, 2019). Shaun Gallagher refers to this back and forth between philosophy and empirical science as “mutual enlightenment” (Gallagher, 1997; see also Gallagher & Zahavi, 2012).…”

“…In contrast to these traditional ways of applying phenomenology outside of philosophy, Dan Zahavi has argued that qualitative researchers and healthcare professionals can benefit from phenomenology's well‐articulated theoretical framework, which consists of core concepts, such as selfhood, empathy, temporality, spatiality, affectivity and embodiment (Zahavi, 2019a, 2019b, 2020). This approach draws inspiration from phenomenology's successful applications in psychiatry and the cognitive sciences, which were developed independently of phenomenology's applications in qualitative research (Zahavi & Martiny, 2019).…”

Make applied phenomenology what it needs to be: an interdisciplinary research program

“…Zahavi (2019aZahavi ( , 2019bZahavi ( , 2020Zahavi ( , 2021.16 This doesn't apply to Dennett, then, since he has made multiple important, original intellectual contributions that in no way hang on his misuse of the term phenomenology.17 Carel (2016, pp. 20-21).18 This resembles the "methodology conception" of applied philosophy (Lippert-Rasmussen 2016).19 Martin and Hickerson (2013, p. 196).20 Ibid.21 Ibid, p. 197.…”