Book Chapter: Phenomenological Sociology

Abstract

Phenomenological sociology, rooted in the philosophical traditions of Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, offers a distinctive approach to understanding the social world through the lived experiences of individuals. Building upon Max Weber’s notion of meaningful social action, Alfred Schutz translated phenomenological insights into sociological analysis, emphasizing key concepts such as the life-world (Lebenswelt), intersubjectivity, typifications, and the stock of knowledge. This framework underscores how everyday interactions, shared meanings, and reciprocal perspectives construct the reality of social life. By distinguishing between “in-order-to” motives and “because” motives, Schutz explained how actors interpret and make sense of actions within specific contexts. His further classifications of social relationships Umwelt, Mitwelt, and We/They relations illustrate the complexity of intersubjective life. The phenomenological perspective has also significantly shaped later sociological traditions, notably Berger and Luckmann’s social constructionism and Garfinkel’s ethnomethodology. Despite criticisms regarding its abstractness, micro-level orientation, and limited engagement with power and structural analysis, phenomenological sociology remains a foundational paradigm. It provides enduring insights into how meaning is produced, sustained, and negotiated in everyday life, thereby bridging philosophy and sociology in the study of human action and social reality.

Keywords: Phenomenological Sociology, Alfred Schutz, Life-World, Intersubjectivity, Social Constructionism, Ethnomethodology, Social Reality.