In phenomenological research, lived experiences are the main object of study, but the goal of such research is not to understand individuals' lived experiences as facts, but to determine the understandable meaning of such experiences. In addition, lived experience is not about reflecting on an experience while living through it but is recollective, with a given experience being reflected on after it has passed or been lived through.
Philosophy In the philosophy of
Wilhelm Dilthey, the
human sciences are based on lived experience, which makes them fundamentally different from the
natural sciences, which are considered to be based on scientific experiences. The concept can also be approached from the view that since every experience has both objective and subjective components, it is important for a researcher to understand all aspects of it.
Feminist epistemologies situate knowing in the lived experiences of each person. Because each person has a unique
standpoint that is shaped by their lived experiences and identities, they have different understandings of how the world works, and what is "true" for one person may not be for another. While one standpoint does not have more value than another, feminist philosophers argue that people from marginalized groups tend to have their knowledge discredited, and their lived experiences become undervalued. As such, they believe efforts should be made to highlight and uplift their voices.
Academia In academia, lived experiences can be seen as valuable sources of information. Instead of hiding behind ideals of neutrality, educators are encouraged to be vulnerable and center their humanity, embracing the differences between lived experiences and what they bring to new ways of knowing. In this way, accepting lived experiences into research is a form of
social justice.
Criticism In August 2018, while the use of the term as something separate from the broader "experience" counterpart in English was growing in Anglo-centric social policy and allied disciplines, the use was criticized as "unaccompanied by discussion of what [the term] may mean or imply." == See also ==