Boredom, as a Concept in Phenomenology

Synonyms

Ennui, Langeweile, Listlessness, Tedium, Weariness

Definition

A summary of phenomenological approaches to boredom.

Introduction

Boredom – that inescapable accoutrement of human existence – is more than a common affective encounter. It is an experience of key phenomenological significance. Boredom gives rise to perceptions of meaninglessness, difficulties in effective agency, lapses of attention, an altered perception of the passage of time, and to an impressively diverse array of behavioral outcomes. Above all, it shapes our world and lives. Boredom’s presence demarcates what is engaging, interesting, or meaningful from what is not; it alerts us when we find ourselves in situations that either are lacking in personal significance or cannot properly engage us; and it spurs us into action and thought. Within the phenomenological tradition, the importance of boredom has been highlighted by Martin Heidegger, who in his 1929–30 lecture course, The Fundamental Concepts of...