Empathy, Phenomenological Reduction, and Reflexivity: Foundations of Phenomenological Research

Do our former experiences represent an obstacle to truly understanding another person? This study explores the phenomenological foundation that positions former experiences not as obstacles, but as essential preconditions for understanding the world and others. Drawing on Husserl’s theory of apperception, passive synthesis, intersubjectivity and empathy, I examine how past experiences inform both our present experiences and anticipated future, thereby enriching our perception and interpretation of others and helping us perceive exceedingly fine-grained patterns of meaning. Our past experiences do not rigidly determine our future actions but instead create a background of possibilities, like a horizon we carry with us, that can be continuously adjusted and fine-tuned as new situations arise. Husserl’s, and Stein’s theory of empathy and intersubjectivity further opens up the possibility for a direct perception of the other’s subjectivity. This is nuanced and enriched by Merleau-Ponty’s description of the intertwining or coupling of our constitutive consciousnesses, which illustrates not only how our embodied expressions convey emotions and intentions directly but also how we engage in a mutual embodied dialogue. The phenomenological reduction offers a method to ensure our openness towards others and the world, and to grasp how meanings are constituted and shared within our lifeworld.