Good fences make good neighbours : the (un)easy relationship between the natural and phenomenological sciences

Poljšak Kus, Maša (author), Kordeš, Urban (author)

In this paper we aim to sketch and describe the differences (and some similarities) between the approaches, assumptions and limitations of both natural and phenomenological sciences. We establish the borders of each domain and ask whether consciousness can be found in either, and in what form. In the form of experience, we argue that it can only be found in the domain phenomenological inquiry. Exploration of such a domain requires different set of tools and rules than used in the natural sciences, remaining on its own side of the fence. Phenomenological science needs to embrace the fact that observed phenomena are observer-dependant and focus equally on both the way we observe and what we observe. To develop appropriate methodologies, phenomenological science needs to establish on its own while communicating with the natural sciences in the form of mutual constraints, not prescriptions.

• Language: English
• Keywords: natural science, phenomenology, lived experience, mutual constraints
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: PEF - Faculty of Education; FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 145-154
• Numbering: Letn. 19, št. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178681
• UDC: 159.96:130.121-021.2
• ISSN on article: 2350-4218
• DOI: 10.4312/ars.19.1.145-154
• COBISS.SI-ID: 270759939
• Publication date in RUL: 05.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Ars & humanitas : revija za umetnost in humanistiko = journal of arts and humanities
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2350-4218
• COBISS.SI-ID: 269590528

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Dobre ograje delajo dobre sosede : (ne)lahko razmerje med naravoslovnimi in fenomenološkimi znanostmi

Abstract

V pričujočem članku želimo orisati in opisati razlike (ter nekaj podobnosti) med pristopi, predpostavkami in omejitvami naravoslovnih in fenomenoloških znanosti. Obema področjema zarišemo meje in se vprašamo, kje lahko najdemo zavest ter v kakšni obliki. Trdimo, da lahko zavest kot doživljanje najdemo zgolj na področju fenomenološkega raziskovanja. Preučevanje takšnega področja zahteva drugačen nabor orodij in pravil, kot ga uporabljajo naravoslovne znanosti, zato mora ostati na svoji strani meje. Fenomenološka znanost mora sprejeti dejstvo, da so opaženi pojavi odvisni od opazovalca, in se enakovredno osredotočiti tako na način opazovanja kot na to, kar opazi. Za razvoj ustreznih metodoloških pristopov mora fenomenološka znanost sama vzpostaviti svoje temelje, hkrati pa komunicirati z naravoslovnimi znanostmi na podlagi medsebojnih omejitev, ne pa predpisov.

• Keywords: naravoslovna znanost, fenomenologija, doživljanje, medsebojne omejitve

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Funding programme: Univerza v Ljubljani, RSF, Veliki interdisciplinarni projekti
• Name: Ekološko veljavno raziskovanje tavanja misli: skupnostni in nevrofenomenološki pristop