heterophenomenology

UK/ˈhɛt.ɹəʊ.fə.nɒm.ənˌɒl.ə.dʒi/

noun

phenomenology of the other

Scrabble 33

Meanings

nounheterophenomenology (plural heterophenomenologies)

plural heterophenomenologies

  1. method of studying the consciousness of other people
    1 more example

    I go to some lengths in my book to explain that heterophenomenology is nothing other than the scientific method applied to the phenomena of consciousness, and thus the way to save the rich phenomenology of consciousness for scientific study. I didn't invent the heterophenomenological method; I just codified, more self-consciously and carefully than before, the ground rules already tacitly endorsed by the leading researchers.

    1993, Daniel Dennett, Consciousness and Cognition, volume 2, number 1

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sḿ̥teros
  3. Proto-Hellenic*hə́teros
  4. Ancient Greekἕτερος (héteros)
  5. Englishhetero-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*bʰh₂nyéti
  8. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáňňō
  9. Ancient Greekφαίνω (phaínō)
  10. Ancient Greekφαινόμενον (phainómenon)
  11. Late Latinphaenomenon
  12. Englishphenomenon
  13. Proto-Indo-European*leǵ-
  14. Proto-Indo-European*lóǵos
  15. Proto-Hellenic*lógos
  16. Ancient Greekλόγος (lógos)
  17. Englishphenomenology
  18. Englishheterophenomenology

From hetero- + phenomenology, coined by American philosopher Daniel Dennett.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

heterophenomenology. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterophenomenology

MLA

“heterophenomenology.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterophenomenology. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heterophenomenology,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterophenomenology.

Source: heterophenomenology on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.