Phenomenological Criminology

Abstract

Phenomenological knowledge is knowledge of what a particular lived experience is like. This is sometimes abbreviated as knowledge-what (something is like) and contrasted with both knowledge-that (such and such is so) and knowledge-how (to perform some act). The phenomenological value of an exemplary narrative is the extent to which the narrative representation provides knowledge of the lived experience of perpetrating crime or social harm. This chapter demonstrates that narrative fictions can be valuable to criminology in this way using two case studies: Martin Amis’ (2014) novel, The Zone of Interest, which provides phenomenological knowledge of collaboration in the National Socialist genocide; and Tom King and Mitch Gerads’ (2018) graphic novel, The Sheriff of Baghdad, which provides phenomenological knowledge of collaboration in the Coaluition Forces occupation of Iraq.