Expressions of Phenomenological Research: Consciousness and Lifeworld Studies - Paperback

by Ayumi Nishii (Author), Lori K. Schneider (Author), Ann Wilson (Author)

Despite its origins at the turn of the 20th century, Edmund Husserl's idea of "phenomenology" still elicits reactions ranging from perplexity to suspicion. Over the past four decades, phenomenology and hermeneutics have been embraced increasingly by scholars who are not strictly philosophical phenomenologists- including educators, health professionals and social scientists. As such, varying views have arisen as to what really constitutes phenomenological inquiry. This edited collection expands scholarly discussion as to what counts as legitimate phenomenological inquiry, and showcases the unique way that phenomenology has been taught at the Fielding Graduate University. Consciousness and Lifeworld Studies at Fielding arises from the long-standing collaboration of Valerie Bentz and David Rehorick share their knowledge and enthusiasm for phenomenology to more than two decades of doctoral students. Their teaching style is characterized as leregogical, advancing beyond andragogy as the model for adult learning. An analytical review of seventy-six doctoral dissertations reveals three distinct methodological contributions-"phenomenologically-based," "-oriented," and "-inspired"- to the study of consciousness and the sociocultural lifeworld. Graduate scholar-practitioners demonstrate the applicability of phenomenology and hermeneutics for their professional practice and personal lives. James Marlatt explores the executive coaching relationship, drawing on concepts from Schutz to Kurt Wolff. Shirley Knobel examines the lifeworld of Nelson Mandela through a deep dive into his personal letters and archived documents. Jo-Anne Clarke uses a Schutzian lifeworld lens to study women as sustainability entrepreneurs. Carol Laberge situates individual experiences of heart attack at the center of the nursing healthcare narrative. Lori Schneider builds upon Heidgger's conception of place to display the meaning of work, home and life for remote workers. Ayumi Nishii displays how trying to understand Heidegger changed her sense of self and the meaning of servant leadership. Dorianne Cotter-Lockard reveals new understandings from a study of the collaborative relationship within chamber music ensembles. Michael and Ann Wilson generate a creative bridge between phenomenology, hermeneutics, and they way socially innovative community projects for citizens in need can be forged. In the closing Epilogue, Valerie Bentz and David Rehorick identify ten qualities that emerge as characteristic of Fielding educated phenomenologists.

Author Biography

David Allan Rehorick, PhD (Senior Editor) is Professor Emeritus at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Canada where he taught from 1974 to 2007. He is also Professor Emeritus at the Fielding Graduate University, serving as Research Consulting Faculty (1995-2006), then full-time faculty (2007-2012). He has served on six editorial boards of academic journals, including Review Editor of Human Studies: A Journal for Philosophy and the Social Sciences. As a developer in higher education, David was appointed Founding Faculty and Fellow in Comparative Culture at The Miyazaki International College in Japan (1994-97). He was also founder of Renaissance College, the first undergraduate leadership studies program in Canada, and became the first Director of International Internships (2001-04). He received the Association of Atlantic Universities Instructional Leadership Award (1995) and the Allan P. Stuart Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching (1984). Contact: rehorick@unb.ca Valerie Malhotra Bentz, MSSW, PhD (Editor) is Professor of Human and Organization Development, Fielding Graduate University, where she served as Associate Dean for Research. Her current interests include somatics, phenomenology, social theory, consciousness development, and Vedantic theories of knowledge. Her books include: Contemplative social research: Caring for self, being, and lifeworld, with Vincenzo M. B. Giogino; Transformative phenomenology: Changing ourselves, lifeworlds and professional practice, with David Rehorick; Mindful inquiry in social research, with Jeremy Shapiro, and Becoming mature: Childhood ghosts and spirits in adult life. She also authored a philosophical novel, Flesh and mind: The time travels of Dr. Victoria Von Dietz. She is a Fellow in Contemplative Practice of the American Association of Learned Societies. Valerie was editor of Phenomenology and the Human Sciences (1994-98). Valerie was co-founder of the Creative Longevity and Wisdom program at Fielding. She is the Director of the Doctoral Concentration in Somatics, Phenomeology, and Communicative Leadership (SPL). Contact: vbentz@fielding.edu