Very interesting piece; more so to me because i happen to be reading At The Existentialist Cafe right now, for the past few days! Sarah Bakewell says phenomenology is ‘Describe Phenomena’, that is, describe things the way they present themselves to you. One example in the book is a cup of coffee. Here goes:
“…this cup of coffee is a rich aroma, at once earthy and perfumed; it is the lazy movement of a curlicue of steam rising from its surface. As I lift it to my lips, it is a placidly shifting liquid and a weight in my hand inside its thick-rimmed cup. It is an approaching warmth, then an intense dark flavour on my tongue, starting with a slightly austere jold and then relaxing into a comfortable warmth, which spreads from the cup into my body, bringing the promise of lasting alertness and refreshment. The promise, the anticipated sensations, the smell, the colour and the flavour are all part of the coffee as phenomenon. They all emerge by being experienced.”