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.
00:01:10 – Phenomenological research on the spiritual experiences of astronauts
00:05:41– Why is phenomenology a suitable research approach to investigate experiences as such?
00:07:03 – On the practice of phenomenology in other research projects
00:08:39 – On the first-person perspective in phenomenological research
00:11:44 – How does the body shape the mind?
00:14:14 – On hermeneutics, education and human development
00:17:46 – On the role of self-knowledge in professional studies and practices
00:23:42 – On different concepts of the self
00:27:55 – On the role of philosophy in professional studies
00:31:32 – Can spiritual experiences of awe and wonder foster responsibility in professional practices?
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