ABSTRACT

Theterms"phenomenological"and"naturalistic"suggestschoolsorprocedureswithin philosophy,andIthinkitbestifImakesome preliminaryremarksastohowIintendthe distinctionbetweentheminthispaper.I t is notmyintentionwhenspeakingofthephenomenologicalapproachtospeakoftheapplicationtothesocialofthemethodsofEdmund Husserlandhisfollowers.Idonotknow whethertheapproachImeantodealwithisor isnotphenomenologicalinthatsense,butfor whatitisworththereadermaybeinformed thatAlfredSchutzseemstothinkthatitis, HansNeisserthatitisnot,andNatansonhimselftakesbothviews,dependingonwhether heintendsphenomenologyinabroadora narrowsense.Forthepurposeofthedistinction thatIwanttomake,"thephenomenological approach"willmeanonethatisprimarily orientedtowarddescription,nottheoryformation,andinwhichthevantagepointofsubjectivity,inawaytobemadeclear,isoffirst importance.