#11 Shaun Gallagher | On Astronauts in Awe, Phenomenology & Self-knowledge
Our guest in this episode is Shaun Gallagher, a leading thinker and scholar in the fields of phenomenology, hermeneutics and the cognitive sciences, with several internationally acclaimed contributions. Shaun is the Lillian and Morrie Moss Professor of Excellence in Philosophy at the University of Memphis and he also has a secondary research appointment at the University of Wollongong in Australia. In this episode, he describes one of his neurophenomenological research projects based on astronauts’ experiences of awe and wonder. He also gives a brief account of phenomenology and why the first-person perspective in research can foster a deeper understanding of phenomena which conventional approaches cannot. In our conversation we also delve into the topic of self-knowledge and practical wisdom and Shaun explicates why spiritual experiences of awe and wonder, like the astronauts had, can contribute to the development of responsibility in professional practices.
00:05:41– Why is phenomenology a suitable research approach to investigate experiences as such?
00:31:32 – Can spiritual experiences of awe and wonder foster responsibility in professional practices?
Between Theory and Practice – Questions for Reflection
Between Theory and Practice – Questions for Reflection
How might the insights from this dialogue inspire your own practice? The following questions are intended to inspire further inquiry, whether explored individually or in conversation with colleagues, students, or peers.
- Shaun Gallagher suggests that experiences of awe, wonder, and genuine encounter can transform how we see ourselves and our place in the world. Reflect on a recent experience that made you pause, reconsider, or see something differently. What might this experience be inviting you to pay greater attention to in your professional life?
- Phenomenology invites us to examine our lived experience before rushing to explanations or judgments. In a current professional challenge, what might you discover if you first attend carefully to your own experience, the perspectives of others, and the broader context before deciding how to act?
Literature:
- Gallagher, S. (2022): Phenomenology. Berling: Springer.
- Gallagher, S., Janz, B., Reinerman, L., Trempler, J., Bockelman, P. (2018): A Neurophenomenology of Awe and Wonder. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Gallagher, S. (1992): Hermeneutics and Education. New York, NY: State University Press of New York
- Gallagher, S. (2005): How the body shapes the mind. Clarendon Press, Oxford
- Gallagher, S. Ed. (2011): The Oxford Handbook of the Self. Oxford University Press
