A phenomenon (pl.: phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observableevent.[1] The term came into its modern philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which cannot be directly observed. Kant was heavily influenced by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in this part of his philosophy, in which phenomenon and noumenon serve as interrelated technical terms. Far predating this, the ancient GreekPyrrhonist philosopher Sextus Empiricus also used phenomenon and noumenon as interrelated technical terms.
The combustion of a match is an observable occurrence, or event, and therefore a phenomenon.
In popular usage, a phenomenon often refers to an extraordinary, unusual or notable event. According to the Dictionary of Visual Discourse:[2]
In ordinary language 'phenomenon/phenomena' refer to any occurrence worthy of note and investigation, typically an untoward or unusual event, person or fact that is of special significance or otherwise notable.
In modern philosophical use, the term phenomena means things as they are experienced through the senses and processed by the mind as distinct from things in and of themselves (noumena). In his inaugural dissertation, titled On the Form and Principles of the Sensible and Intelligible World, Immanuel Kant (1770) theorizes that the human mind is restricted to the logical world and thus can only interpret and understand occurrences according to their physical appearances. He wrote that humans could infer only as much as their senses allowed, but not experience the actual object itself.[3] Thus, the term phenomenon refers to any incident deserving of inquiry and investigation, especially processes and events which are particularly unusual or of distinctive importance.[2]
Scienceedit
A comparison between a candle flame on Earth (left) and in a microgravity environment, such as that found on the International Space Station (right). The same burning phenomenon is observed, but different flame shape and colouring phenomena are also observed.Cloud chamber phenomena. Scientists use phenomena to refine some hypotheses and sometimes to disprove a theory. See also animated version.
In natural sciences, a phenomenon is an observable happening or event. Often, this term is used without considering the causes of a particular event. Example of a physical phenomenon is an observable phenomenon of the lunar orbit or the phenomenon of oscillations of a pendulum.[4]
Group phenomena concern the behavior of a particular group of individual entities, usually organisms and most especially people. The behavior of individuals often changes in a group setting in various ways, and a group may have its own behaviors not possible for an individual because of the herd mentality.
Social phenomena apply especially to organisms and people in that subjective states are implicit in the term. Attitudes and events particular to a group may have effects beyond the group, and either be adapted by the larger society, or seen as aberrant, being punished or shunned.
^ ab"Phenomenon/Phenomena". Dictionary of Visual Discourse: A Dialectical Lexicon of Terms. 2011.
^Kant, Immanuel. [1770] 2019. On the Form and Principles of the Sensible and Intelligible World, translated by W. J. Eckoff (1894). – via Wikisource.
^ abBernstein, Jeremy (1996). A Theory for Everything. New York: Copernicus.
^"Mechanical Phenomenon". AudioEnglish.org. Tudorancea Media Network. from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
External linksedit
The dictionary definition of phenomenon at Wiktionary
Quotations related to Phenomenon at Wikiquote
Media related to Phenomena at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
phenomenon, other, uses, phenomena, disambiguation, phenomenal, disambiguation, phenomenon, phenomena, sometimes, spelled, phaenomenon, observable, event, term, came, into, modern, philosophical, usage, through, immanuel, kant, contrasted, with, noumenon, whic. For other uses see Phenomena disambiguation and Phenomenal disambiguation A phenomenon pl phenomena sometimes spelled phaenomenon is an observable event 1 The term came into its modern philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant who contrasted it with the noumenon which cannot be directly observed Kant was heavily influenced by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in this part of his philosophy in which phenomenon and noumenon serve as interrelated technical terms Far predating this the ancient Greek Pyrrhonist philosopher Sextus Empiricus also used phenomenon and noumenon as interrelated technical terms The combustion of a match is an observable occurrence or event and therefore a phenomenon Contents 1 Common usage 2 Philosophy 3 Science 4 Sociology 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCommon usage editIn popular usage a phenomenon often refers to an extraordinary unusual or notable event According to the Dictionary of Visual Discourse 2 In ordinary language phenomenon phenomena refer to any occurrence worthy of note and investigation typically an untoward or unusual event person or fact that is of special significance or otherwise notable Philosophy editSee also Phenomenology philosophy In modern philosophical use the term phenomena means things as they are experienced through the senses and processed by the mind as distinct from things in and of themselves noumena In his inaugural dissertation titled On the Form and Principles of the Sensible and Intelligible World Immanuel Kant 1770 theorizes that the human mind is restricted to the logical world and thus can only interpret and understand occurrences according to their physical appearances He wrote that humans could infer only as much as their senses allowed but not experience the actual object itself 3 Thus the term phenomenon refers to any incident deserving of inquiry and investigation especially processes and events which are particularly unusual or of distinctive importance 2 Science edit nbsp A comparison between a candle flame on Earth left and in a microgravity environment such as that found on the International Space Station right The same burning phenomenon is observed but different flame shape and colouring phenomena are also observed nbsp Cloud chamber phenomena Scientists use phenomena to refine some hypotheses and sometimes to disprove a theory See also animated version See also PhenomenalismIn scientific usage a phenomenon is any event that is observable including the use of instrumentation to observe record or compile data Especially in physics the study of a phenomenon may be described as measurements related to matter energy or time such as Isaac Newton s observations of the Moon s orbit and of gravity or Galileo Galilei s observations of the motion of a pendulum 4 In natural sciences a phenomenon is an observable happening or event Often this term is used without considering the causes of a particular event Example of a physical phenomenon is an observable phenomenon of the lunar orbit or the phenomenon of oscillations of a pendulum 4 A mechanical phenomenon is a physical phenomenon associated with the equilibrium or motion of objects 5 Some examples are Newton s cradle engines and double pendulums Sociology editSee also Phenomenology sociology Group phenomena concern the behavior of a particular group of individual entities usually organisms and most especially people The behavior of individuals often changes in a group setting in various ways and a group may have its own behaviors not possible for an individual because of the herd mentality Social phenomena apply especially to organisms and people in that subjective states are implicit in the term Attitudes and events particular to a group may have effects beyond the group and either be adapted by the larger society or seen as aberrant being punished or shunned See also editAwareness Condition of possibility Essence Electrical phenomena Experience Intuition List of cycles List of effects List of electrical phenomena List of geological phenomena List of Internet phenomena List of natural phenomena List of severe weather phenomena List of syntactic phenomena Observation Optical phenomenaReferences edit Phenomenon The Columbia Encyclopedia 2008 a b Phenomenon Phenomena Dictionary of Visual Discourse A Dialectical Lexicon of Terms 2011 Kant Immanuel 1770 2019 On the Form and Principles of the Sensible and Intelligible World translated by W J Eckoff 1894 via Wikisource a b Bernstein Jeremy 1996 A Theory for Everything New York Copernicus Mechanical Phenomenon AudioEnglish org Tudorancea Media Network Archived from the original on 23 July 2011 Retrieved 23 May 2011 External links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of phenomenon at Wiktionary nbsp Quotations related to Phenomenon at Wikiquote nbsp Media related to Phenomena at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phenomenon amp oldid 1218316092, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
