Lebenswelt

Lebenswelt, a concept from philosopher Edmund Husserl, refers to the everyday, lived experience of the world around us. It encompasses the natural setting of our daily activities, perceptions, and interactions—everything we simply take for granted as normal existence. This world is pre-reflective, meaning we aren't constantly analyzing it; we just experience it directly. Lebenswelt forms the foundation of our understanding and knowledge, providing the context in which all meaning and perception occur. It emphasizes that our reality is shaped by our familiar, immediate surroundings and experiences before formal scientific or philosophical analysis takes over.