Heideggerian Phenomenology Research Articles

The voice of the woman-mother of a premature baby in the neonatal unit: a phenomenological approach

Problem: Motherhood is an important moment for women, and being a mother of a premature infant admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) requires greater adaptation to this existential moment. Aim: To understand the experiences of women-mothers during the hospitalization of the child in the NICU. Method: This is a qualitative study based on Heideggerian phenomenology, held in a public NICU. Results: The experience of women-mothers allowed the creation of four units of meaning: fear of the environment and initially touching the child; being received in the unit; the chronological period, and; improved monitoring of the baby. Discussion: Women-mothers, in the facticity of being thrown into the world of NICU, experience care, take part in conversations, fear for their child's life, and remain tethered to their occupations and daily tasks. Conclusion: The reception, careful listening and understanding of the uniqueness of women-mothers represent a fundamental way of being in the NICU, allowing women to become mothers of their babies.

ÓCIO, TEMPORALIDADE E EXISTÊNCIA: uma leitura à luz da fenomenologia e hermenêutica heideggereanas

A presente reflexão procura articular as determinações centrais das atuais sociedades e culturas contemporâneas com uma conceção de tempo ocioso, indagando das suas potencialidades e constrangimentos. Para o efeito, é convocada a fenomenologia heideggereana que, em conjunto com as noções de temporalidade do dasein e obra-de-arte, nos permite fundamentar a necessidade incontornávelde uma relação ociosa com a verdade, como algo se oculta e desvela, tanto na linguagem como nos modos (im)próprios de relação do dasein à temporalidade.

Classical Mathematical Analysis on Family Survival Tragedy Based on Principal Component Analysis and Matrix Vector

The theme of The Sound and the Fury is a constancy theme in the literature world. It is embodied in the declination of the Compson family. It is also a theme that produced in the transformation of the entire world from the traditional to the modern. The text reveals the nature of the tragedy through Sartre Libertarian, Heidegger's phenomenology of death, Fromm and Marx's theory of alienation. The principal component analysis is used to analyze the tragedy in the wor that produced in man's own survival predicament process of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Simultaneously it analyzes the coupling relationship of the influence factors of tragedy. We can discover the true meaning of tragedy related to the Existential of death. To a certain extent, we can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the appreciation and literary value of The Sound and the Fury.

Student midwives' perceptions of real-time simulation: A qualitative phenomenological study

In recent years there have been several drivers promoting the use of simulation within the learning environment for students undertaking pre-registration midwifery training. Many studies conclude simulation is a viable learning and teaching strategy within health education; however, little is known about ‘real-time’ simulation. This study explores the perceptions of student midwives' experiences of real-time simulation, where their classroom learning within a university setting was interrupted to manage simulated obstetric emergencies in delegated roles. The study utilised a qualitative approach using Heideggerian phenomenology ( Parahoo, 2006 ), and data were collected through focus groups. Analysis and interpretation of the data was achieved using thematic analysis, which revealed that real-time simulation supported student midwives to link theory to practice by ‘doing’. It also revealed that the realism created along with role delegation evoked unexpected emotions and stressful responses from the participants. Midwifery educators need to address these issues when facilitating real-time simulation.

Nurses’ role transition from the clinical ward environment to the critical care environment

To explore the experiences of nurses moving from the ward environment to the critical care environment. Critical care areas are employing nurses with no critical care experience due to staff shortage. There is a paucity of literature focusing on the experiences of nurses moving from the ward environment to the critical care environment. A Heideggerian phenomenology research approach was used in this study. In-depth semi structured interviews, supported with an interview guide, were conducted with nine critical care nurses. Data analysis was guided by Van Manen (1990) approach to phenomenological analysis. Four main themes emerged: The highs and lows, you need support, theory-practice gap, struggling with fear. The participants felt ill prepared and inexperienced to work within the stressful and technical environment of critical care due to insufficient education and support. The study findings indicated that a variety of feelings and emotions are experienced by ward nurses who move into the stressful and technical environment of critical care due to insufficient skills and knowledge. More education and support is required to improve this transition process.

Strange strangers and uncanny hammers: Morton's The Ecological Thought and the phenomenological tradition

Phenomenological notions of ‘dwelling’, particularly as presented by Heidegger, have recently come in for a great deal of criticism (Garrard 2010; Morton 2010; Plumwood 2008; Spencer 2010). This article will evaluate these criticisms, particularly those set out by Timothy Morton in his book The Ecological Thought (2010). Morton argues that the concepts of the ‘lifeworld’ and ‘dwelling’ raise several problems: the extinguishing of the ‘otherness’ of nature, the eradication of difference and the equating of ‘place’ with ownership, exclusion and nationalism, thus failing to allow for uncanniness within intimacy, and for other beings to remain ‘strange strangers’ (Morton 2010). I will consider whether Morton's notion of an ecological ‘mesh’ may be a reiteration of the insights of those thinkers he is criticising, and I will argue that the phenomenology of Heidegger and Husserl has more space for gaps, absence and uncanniness than Morton and others are allowing.

The Strategic Unity of Heidegger's The Fundamental Concepts of Metaphysics

AbstractThis paper unifies the disparate analyses in Heidegger's lecture course, The Fundamental Concepts of Metaphysics: World, Finitude, Solitude, in a single therapeutic and philosophical project. By taking seriously the text's claim to lead us towards authenticity, I show how Heidegger's analysis of boredom works together with his comparative analysis of man and animal to diagnose and lead us out of our contemporary complacency about being. This reading puts both analyses in a new light, reveals the hidden strategic unity of the lecture course, and brings out the therapeutic dimension of Heidegger's phenomenology.

Heidegger, Arendt, and Eichmann in Jerusalem

In Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil, Hannah Arendt aims to secure a more adequate understanding of the new crime of genocide so that it can be prosecuted in a manner that better serves justice. She criticizes the Nuremberg Trials (1945) and, to a lesser extent, the Jerusalem trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann (1961) for miscasting this unprecedented crime in terms of familiar concepts and thereby obscuring it. Arendt claims that this atrocity, instead, demanded original thinking that emanated from a closer grappling with these new experiences. I argue that her criticism reflects Heideggerian phenomenology. This approach questions absolute concepts from a position more consciously planted in the world, which Heidegger considers the source of original thinking. However, Arendt extends this approach to the domain of ethics and law and confronts genocide instead of aligning with those who perpetrated it.

Existential Phenomenology and the Practice of Caring

Purpose: This study was done to provide fundamental ontological understanding of caring and inquiring into the possibility of a caring practice in nursing based on existential phenomenology. Methods: According to Heidegger's existential phenomenology, caring has been interpreted as a fundamental ontological basis for caring practice in nursing. Further, based on Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology, the meaning of the lived experience of illness and the way of caring practice have been described from the aspect of the existential involvement in the embodied life world. Results: Heidegger's phenomenology provided ontological thinking about caring, which is understood in a basic way as the possibility of human existence and dwelling in oneself in the confrontation of the illness experience. Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology offered a meaning of human existence according to bodily intention and situated freedom in the life world. This perspective of embodiment enables nurses to understand bodily experiences of patients and recovery of their bodily capacity in responding to the situation in caring practice. Conclusion: Existential phenomenology gives insight into fundamental reflection for caring attitude and practice in nursing. Existential phenomenological nursing research can provide descriptions and meaning of the lived experience of illness and a way of coping with the crisis of human existence in caring practice.

Toward a Liturgical Existentialism

AbstractA liturgical existentialism attempts to situate Christian spirituality in view of a post‐Heideggerian world. To this end, French phenomenologist Jean‐Yves Lacoste has undertaken what is perhaps the most sustained analysis of Heideggerian existential phenomenology from a theological‐mystical point of view, and this paper highlights his major achievement: the liturgical reduction. Certainly existentialism, after Heidegger, makes the “world” an object of inquiry, and yet Lacoste's reduction is problematic precisely because it privileges an ascetic spirituality that desires to “bracket” the world. Both the temporality and topology of the liturgical reduction are exposed to view in order to show that a liturgical existentialism properly conceived, does not bracket the world, but is realized carefully in and through the world‐horizon itself.

Returning to the Interpretive Turn: Charles Taylor and His Critics

AbstractIn skirmishes over the interpretive turn, the work of Charles Taylor is frequently cited as representing the state of the art. Yet a systematic assessment of Taylor's interpretivism in light of the most salient criticisms made against it has not been conducted. This paper argues that Taylor's interpretivism withstands the strongest criticisms made of it so far, and therefore is an essential resource for revitalizing the interpretive turn. Although it is widely acknowledged in the secondary literature that Taylor's interpretivism rests on ontological claims about human agency, this paper presents a novel justification for this thesis as derived from a Heideggerian phenomenology of moods. It also presents two novel ways in which a defense of Taylor's interpretivism helps to bridge the gap between empirical social science research and normative political and ideological critique. In the latter discussion, it draws on Taylor's most recently published work.

O impacto do diagnóstico do câncer infantil no ambiente familiar e o cuidado recebido

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact on the family following a diagnosis of cancer in a child and to describe how the family members perceive the care provided by the health services. It consists of a qualitative study based on Heidegger's existential phenomenology. The study involved the participation of five families that experienced a child with cancer undergoing care. The spoken and gesticulated language of the interviewees revealed the great impact suffered following the diagnosis of cancer, a time in which the possibility of death of the child is translated into feelings of anxiety, pain and uncertainty. It was also evidenced that the care provided by health services presents unexpected change and challenges during the therapeutic journey of the disease. The importance of the results resides in the fact that they allow health professionals to reflect regarding their daily practices, as well as contemplating the matter of including the family in the therapeutic process of the child with cancer. Descriptors: Child Health (Public Health); Family Health; Medical Oncology; Nursing.

FABRIZIO PALOMBI, The Star & The Whole: Gian-Carlo Rota on Mathematics and Phenomenology. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2011. ISBN 978-1-56881-583-1 (pbk). Pp. xiv + 124. English translation of La stella e l'intero: La ricerca di Gian-Carlo Rota tra matematica e fenomenologia. 2nd rev. ed. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri, 2003

‘Whatever will happen in the world of mind happens first in the small world of mathematics’, Gian-Carlo Rota wrote [Rota, 1995, p. 162], and his philosophical thought was always closely connected to his deep and wide mathematical experience. Rota (1932–1999) began his mathematical career in functional analysis but soon shifted to combinatorics, his contributions to which earned him the Steele Prize in 1988. In philosophy, from 1957 on he became ever more deeply invested in Husserlian and Heideggerian phenomenology, teaching yearly courses on these topics in MIT’s mathematics department from 1972 until the end of his life. His gravestone bears the inscription ‘mathematician-philosopher’. Whoever made that choice no doubt alluded to the fact that this was the title Galileo requested, and was granted, when appointed by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1610. Rota was adamant that rewriting the great book of (not nature but) philosophy in the language of mathematics is not possible. Mathematics and philosophy, he argued, are too heterogeneous for that; hence his criticism of the logical positivists and other ‘mathematizing philosophers’.1 At the same time, he held that mathematics and philosophy are closely related in other ways, which he was certainly not the first to identify, but which his papers present in a particularly forceful and elegant manner:

FABRIZIO PALOMBI, The Star & The Whole: Gian-Carlo Rota on Mathematics and Phenomenology. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2011. ISBN 978-1-56881-583-1 (pbk). Pp. xiv + 124. English translation of La stella e l'intero: La ricerca di Gian-Carlo Rota tra matematica e fenomenologia. 2nd rev. ed. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri, 2003

‘Whatever will happen in the world of mind happens first in the small world of mathematics’, Gian-Carlo Rota wrote [Rota, 1995, p. 162], and his philosophical thought was always closely connected to his deep and wide mathematical experience. Rota (1932–1999) began his mathematical career in functional analysis but soon shifted to combinatorics, his contributions to which earned him the Steele Prize in 1988. In philosophy, from 1957 on he became ever more deeply invested in Husserlian and Heideggerian phenomenology, teaching yearly courses on these topics in MIT’s mathematics department from 1972 until the end of his life. His gravestone bears the inscription ‘mathematician-philosopher’. Whoever made that choice no doubt alluded to the fact that this was the title Galileo requested, and was granted, when appointed by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1610. Rota was adamant that rewriting the great book of (not nature but) philosophy in the language of mathematics is not possible. Mathematics and philosophy, he argued, are too heterogeneous for that; hence his criticism of the logical positivists and other ‘mathematizing philosophers’.1 At the same time, he held that mathematics and philosophy are closely related in other ways, which he was certainly not the first to identify, but which his papers present in a particularly forceful and elegant manner:

The Lived Experience of New Nurses: Importance of the Clinical Preceptor

New nurse internships or residency programs represent one evidence-based strategy to increase new nurse recruitment and readiness for practice. This qualitative study examined the phenomenon of being a new nurse in an internship program and explored ways that concernful practices (Diekelmann & Diekelmann, 2009) present themselves in that program. Heideggerian phenomenology was used to structure the study of seven nurse interns. Transcripts were made from audiotaped conversations of each new nurse and the primary investigator. Hermeneutic analysis was used to identify study themes across narratives. Sequential transcript analysis was used to connect individual excerpts to create a converging conversation of new nurses' lived internship experiences. Three study themes defined the meaningfulness of the preceptor-new nurse relationship. A converging conversation of new nurse stories linked themes, concernful practices (patterns), and interpretation of the experience of being a new nurse in an internship program. This study amplifies the importance of the new nurse-preceptor relationship that supports new nurses' transition to practice.

Dwelling in Second Life? A phenomenological evaluation of online virtual worlds

In previous research on virtual worlds, the question of whether virtual space can be evaluated just like "real world" space has not been fully addressed. This paper challenges the perceived commonsensical set of assumptions through which virtual world activities are usually unpacked and proposes a new method of evaluating virtual worlds based on Martin Heidegger's phenomenology. Various focus groups conducted in the virtual world Second Life confirmed that a phenomenological paradigm is more appropriate to fully make sense of and leverage this new medium. Besides questioning the relevancy of dealing with virtual worlds as if they were parallel spaces, this paper, by leveraging a new conceptualization of virtual worlds, also offers suggestions for new online qualitative methodologies.

Tourism: A catalyst for existential authenticity

In studies of the relationship between existential authenticity and tourism, it has been postulated that tourism offers a temporary release from the inauthenticity of everyday life. This paper argues that this portrayal of the role of tourism neglects the promise and potential of tourism to act not simply as a substitute, but as a catalyst, for existential authenticity. The paper draws on Heideggerian phenomenology and Sartrean existentialism to reveal the role played by tourism in prompting the adoption of an authentic attitude. A parallel is drawn between tourism and Heidegger’s Spielraum, which offers a reflective space to consider life choices and to prompt change, if necessary, upon tourists’ return home.

Philosophy of phenomenology: how understanding aids research

To assist the researcher in understanding the similarities and differences between the Husserlian and Heideggerian philosophies of phenomenology, and how that philosophy can inform nursing research as a useful methodology. Nurse researchers using phenomenology as a methodology need to understand the philosophy of phenomenology to produce a research design that is philosophically congruent. However, phenomenology has a long and complex history of development, and may be difficult to understand and apply. The author draws from Heidegger (1962), Gadamer (2004), and nurse scholars and methodologists. To give the reader a sense of the development of the philosophy of phenomenology, the author briefly recounts its historical origins and interpretations, specifically related to Husserl, Heidegger and Gadamer. The author outlines the ontological and epistemological assumptions of Husserlian and Heideggerian phenomenology and guidance for methodology inspired by these philosophers. Difficulties with engaging in phenomenological research are addressed, especially the processes of phenomenological reduction and bracketing, and the lack of clarity about the methods of interpretation. Despite its complexity, phenomenology can provide the nurse researcher with indepth insight into nursing practice. An understanding of phenomenology can guide nurse researchers to produce results that have meaning in nursing patient care.

Um estudo sobre a ontologia do espaço na obra de Martin Heidegger

Este artigo pretende contribuir com o estudo da ontologia do espaço na obra de Martin Heidegger. Para tanto, dentro das limitações deste trabalho, procuramos analisar os contornos da fenomenologia heideggeriana, apontando como o filósofo alemão pensa a sua filosofia enquanto uma alternativa à metafísica tradicional concebida na modernidade. O objetivo central, aqui, é pôr em discussão o sentido do homem enquanto ser-no-mundo, entendendo o espaço como uma categoria de análise de grande importância para o homem-no-mundo, para a sociedade e, portanto, para a ciência geográfica.
 
 Abstract
 
 A STUDY ON THE ONTOLOGY OF SPACE IN WORK OF MARTIN HEIDEGGER
 
 This article aims to contribute to the study of the ontology of space in the work of Martin Heidegger. To do so, within the limitations of this work, we analyze the characteristics of Heideggerian phenomenology, pointing out how the German philosopher thinks his philosophy as an alternative to traditional metaphysics conceived in modernity. The main objective here is to focus discussion on the meaning of man as being in the world, understanding space as a category of analysis of great importance to man-in-the-world, to society and, therefore, for science geographical.

Uncovering the common ground in qualitative inquiry

The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of a common qualitative data set analysed with both a quality improvement tool to facilitate service improvement, and a rigorous research methodology to engage beginning nurse researchers in a mentored project. A qualitative cohort study of the experience of hospitalisation across six diagnostic groups interrogated data from 104 patient and carer interviews using the Picker Dimensions of Experience and Heideggerian Phenomenology. The paper reveals that well-conducted qualitative interviews can provide common ground for service improvement initiatives and rigorous research analysis. The Picker Dimensions use simple coding methods that push findings towards utility, but at times are overly reductionist and exile any data not related to hospital services. Heideggerian phenomenology is training and resource intensive, but its exploration of the meaning of the illness experience provides a profound backdrop for the subsequent understanding of hospitalisation. The access that qualitative data provides to the patient and family's perspective is becoming increasingly valued in processes of ongoing quality improvement, clinical redesign and evaluation for hospital accreditation. The intrinsic rewards of deep qualitative analysis for the staff involved are extraordinary. Clinicians were humbled by new understandings, which surprised them despite their long clinical experience. While quality improvement processes require training, ethics applications and data collection, the same framework can support rigorous qualitative research through use of the data as "common ground". The researchers experienced a tension, but eventually, a balance between the strengths and limitations of these combined modes of qualitative inquiry: