Edmund Husserl was a German philosopher best known as the founder of phenomenology, a philosophical movement that focuses on the structures of experience and consciousness. Born in 1859, he aimed to explore how we perceive and understand the world around us. Husserl believed that by examining our experiences closely, we could uncover the fundamental truths about human existence. His work laid the groundwork for many later philosophers, including Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre. Husserl's ideas emphasized the importance of subjective experience, arguing that reality is shaped by our perceptions. His influence continues to be felt in various fields, including psychology, sociology, and cognitive science.