Phenomenology, Existentialism, Postmodernism, and Critical Thinking - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering phenomenology, existentialism, postmodernism, and critical thinking from the lecture notes.

Phenomenology

A philosophical movement that explores the structures of experience and consciousness; focuses on how things appear in subjective experience rather than on objective reality.

Edmund Husserl

Founder of phenomenology in the early 20th century.

Intentionality

The idea that consciousness is always about something; thoughts are directed toward objects, experiences, or concepts.

Epoché

The process of bracketing or suspending judgment about the external world to focus purely on the contents of consciousness.

Phenomenological Reduction

Stripping away layers of interpretation to get to the pure experience or essence of phenomena.

Lifeworld (Lebenswelt)

The pre-scientific world of lived experience—the everyday world experienced directly, without mediation of science.

Existentialism

A philosophical movement emphasizing individual freedom, choice, and the inherent meaninglessness of life; themes include angst, absurdity, and authenticity.

Freedom and Responsibility

Existentialist idea that individuals are fundamentally free and must take responsibility for their choices; freedom can be empowering and overwhelming.

Absurdity

The conflict between the human desire for meaning and the silent, indifferent universe; often leads to creating one’s own meaning.

Authenticity

Emphasizes living in accordance with one's freedom and true self, rejecting external pressures.

Angst

Existential anxiety or dread arising from recognizing one’s own freedom and the uncertainty of existence.

Existential Crisis

A moment when individuals confront the lack of inherent meaning in life and must grapple with freedom and responsibility.

Soren Kierkegaard

Danish philosopher often cited as a precursor to existentialism; emphasized individual choice and authentic faith.

Albert Camus

Philosopher associated with absurdity; argued for creating one’s own meaning in an otherwise meaningless world.

Postmodernism

A broad movement that emerged mid-20th century as a reaction against modernism; characterized by skepticism toward grand narratives, relativism, and blurred boundaries between forms of expression.

Grand narratives

Large, overarching stories about history and society that postmodernism questions.

Relativism

The idea that truth and meaning are not universal but relative to perspectives.

Skepticism toward grand narratives

Doubt about universal, all-encompassing explanations; a hallmark of postmodern thought.

Critical thinking

The process of evaluating information and arguments to uncover bias, assess evidence, and remain open to new ideas.

Fallacies

Errors in reasoning that undermine the logic of an argument; they can sound convincing despite their flaws.