Introduction to Phenomenology

Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Point of Entry
Review: Sokolowski's work is the perfect point of entry into a complex school of thought. Although written primarily from a Husserlian perspective, it will inspire the neophyte to pursue phenomenology in its fullness. The reader will close the final page of this book eager to see the world in a new light.

Rating:
Summary: experience phenomenology directly without technical jargon
Review: This book describes the human experience of phenomenology in a natural language without assuming a previous knowledge of the relevant philosophers or concepts. It easily guides the reader into the subject and invites her/him to participate in this human experience by exposing it as relevant to the natural daily life. By this participation some important concepts are developed and made clear much more than may be attained by rote memorizing without a suitable context. However, the historical development of the phenomenological movement and its main figures are only mentionted in a brief sketchy way at the end of the book. Therefore this book is more like a good "appetizer" to studying the subject rather than standing, by itself, as a main "meal".

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for non philosophers
Review: This is the perfect book for anybody,who has no deep philosophical background,to understand the fundamentals of the Phenomenological movement.
Together with D.Moran's Introduction,open the fascinating intellectual pathway to Phenomenology.

Rating:
Summary: Perceptive about perception yes,perception about reality,no
Review: Yes, this is a agood introduction to phenomenology, as other reviewers have explained. However, phenomenology has a negative reputation as being unworldly and out of touch with reality. On page 205 is the amazing announcement that the that the 'best political societies in the world, such as that formed by the American constitution, have been republics . . . '!!!! The Greek and Roman republics were founded on slavery, while the prosperity of the American states was also founded on slavery. I wonder what the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam, and those many countries in debt to the US, would think about Sokolowski's assertion? Heidegger's name has been besmirched by his political naivete. Such naivete gives phenomenology a bad name!