Abstract:

Phenomenology is a philosophical thought originated in Europe. The common problems of the day brought by Weber's so-called "the disenchantment of the world" made phenomenology a widely influential force on various empirical sciences. Though the blend of phenomenology and sociology initially brought about a variety of potential approaches, for a long-time phenomenological sociology is simply regarded as a synonym for Alfred Shutz's works. This narrow interpretation not only generated a misunderstanding of phenomenological sociology, but also obscured the historical facts of its development, and possibly hindered the exploration of other potential approaches of phenomenological sociology. In this paper, the birth of phenomenological sociology will be placed in the context of the Phenomenological Movement, and the various possible approaches implied at the beginning of phenomenological sociology will be explained. By focusing on the Husserl-Schutzian approach, the apparent paradigm of phenomenological sociology, this paper outlines the life-course of the Husserl-Schutzian phenomenological sociology from its occurrence in Europe to its development, decline and aftermath in North America. Although the history of the Husserl-Schutzian approach in North America is the focus here, the paper also discusses the inherent possibility of exploring other potential approaches of phenomenological sociology, and to some extent, points to the possible direction such exploration might lead. It is hoped that this study will stimulate comparative study of phenomenological sociology in Europe and the United States, inspire exploration of other possible approaches, and thus help enhance our understanding of phenomenological sociology.

Key words: the Husserl-Schutzian Approach, the Phenomenologophobia, The Phenomenological Sociology Movement