"Bracketing" in phenomenology: Renouncing assumptions in hearing about student cheating

Abstract

The suspension of presuppositions (the epoche, or bracketing) arose historically as part of Husserl's "transcendental reduction," allowing the contemplation of detached consciousness. Merleau-Ponty interpreted Husserl's later work in an existentialist way, and bracketing became the resolve to set aside theories, research presuppositions, ready-made interpretations etc., in order to reveal engaged, lived experience. The focus of this paper is on research practice, and on the quest for entry into the life-world of the research participant. The role of bracketing is illustrated by the way in which an aspect of the life-world of students in higher education ("cheating") is revealed.