INTERSUBJECTIVITY

Accepting Differences
October 8, 2024

We all live in the world surrounded by different people with different

background and personality. All are unique and everyone owns the right
to be respected as a human being regardless of their differences.

Just what does it mean to accept yourself and others? The answer
to this question is both simple and complex. Needless to say, everyone
has aspects of his personality, character and physical characteristics
that he would like to improve in some ways. In other words, no one is
perfect.

As humans, we have the natural and universal tendency to relate,

to establish attachments and seek close relationships with other
people. Our human nature drives us to reach out to other people and
interact with them in meaningful ways.

The interaction between the self and the other is related to the
philosophical concept of INTERSUBJECTIVITY which is the mutual
recognition of each other as persons.

A good way to think of intersubjectivity is to imagine how one

relates to their family and friends. Maybe one of the family member
enjoyed playing volleyball. He took one of the members of the family
with him when he practiced, and he always had a good time. Growing
up, he decided to join the school volleyball team. If that member of the
family had not played volleyball with him growing up, he may not have
grown to like the sport. The experience with volleyball can be called
intersubjective because it was influenced by another person.

Important values related to intersubjectivity include acceptance

of differences and embracing diversity. We understand that each
person is unique, therefore, differences will exist among groups of
people. When we look at physical traits and even behavior, we can see
that no two persons look and think the same. We have to accept that
people have different views and beliefs. What unites us all is our
shared HUMANITY and DIGNITY.

The recognition of our shared humanity and dignity is what drives

us to extend assistance and act with concern towards others,
especially towards individuals or groups that experience hardships and
discrimination. For instance, those who are physically and mentally
challenged often experience hardships because of their condition.
Despite their limitations, many of them have successfully transcended
their disabilities to become productive and happy individuals

Intersubjectivity looks at others as rooted within the self, it is

safe to say that this concept also promotes a view that all people are
equal. This would imply that people from other sectors of society, such
as those who have physical disabilities or socio-economic challenges
are seen as individuals with the same potential and talents as anybody
else.

Everyone has the power to understand relationships and

interactions that occur in the society with little regard to social or
physical differences. In effect, people who are marginalized may still be
seen as significant contributors to society through their talents, skills,
and capabilities.

Appreciating People With Disabilities

CONCEPT

INTERSUBJECTIVITTY is a condition of man, a subject, among other

men, who are also subjects. It refers to the shared awareness and
understanding among persons. It is made possible by the awareness
of self and the other.

A DIALOGUE is an interaction between persons that happens through

speech or the use of words, expressions, and body language. It
occurs when two persons “open up” to each other, give, and receive
one another in their encounter. Genuine dialogue occurs when
persons are willing to share themselves with one another. The
awareness of each other‟s presence as a true person is defined by
the acceptance of each other‟s uniqueness and differences.
For Martin Buber, an Australian-born Israeli Jewish Philosopher,
human intersubjectivity is a true encounter through the three
spheres of dialogue that “I” engages in. The I-THOU is the encounter
between man and man where language is exchanged and is
described as always mutual, real, and direct; it is an evidence of the
reality of human intersubjectivity through language.
The concept of intersubjectivity also promotes a view that all people are
equal. This would imply that people from other sectors of society, such as
those who have physical disabilities or socioeconomic challenges, are seen
as individuals with the same potential and talents as anybody else. Because
intersubjectivity is unbiased, everyone has the power to understand
relationships and interactions occurring within the society with little regard
to social or physical deficiencies. In effect, people who comes from
marginalized situation are still be seen as significant contributors to society
through their talents, skills, and capabilities
 The following are some authentic examples of
disadvantaged individuals who have significantly contributed to
society:
1. Stephen Hawking

He is a physicist and
cosmologist who, despite his
rare medical condition called
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS), made significant
contributions to
contemporary studies of
relativity and quantum

As a child, Oprah Winfrey

experienced living in a poor
household and was sexually
abused. Despite this, she
motivated herself to succeed
and did so by being one of the
riches women alive today.

2. Oprah Winfrey

The recognition of our shared humanity and dignity is what

drives us to extend assistance and act with concern towards
others, especially towards individuals or groups that experience
hardships and discrimination. For instance, those who are
physically and mentally challenged often experience hardships
because of their condition. Despite their limitations, many of
them have successfully transcended their disabilities to become
productive and happy individuals.

HELEN KELLER (1880-1968) was an American author,

political activist, and the first deaf-blind person to earn a
bachelor‟s degree. NICHOLAS JAMES “NICK” VUJICIC is an
Australian evangelist and motivational speaker who was born
with phocomelia, a condition in which a person is born with no
arms and legs. Lastly, ROSELLE AMBUBUYOG. She is the first
visually- impaired Filipino to graduate summa cum laude from
Ateneo de Manila in 2001. Despite her handicap (loss of vision),
she was a consistent honors student.

Living in this world is not perfect. We are not perfect. The

examples given were a revelation for us, for these give us
inspiration to feel that we should be sensitive enough to
understand every individual‟s differences. We sometimes feel
that we are not capable of doing things but from the given
examples, we can say that we should be thankful already of what
we can do.

Intersubjectivity really plays significant role in each of us in

understanding the differences among us.

Various advocacies supporting persons with disabilities

have resulted in the institution of events and commemorations
such as PARALYMPICS, an international sport competition
modeled after the Olympics that features athletes with
disabilities. The United Nations has also instituted days of
awareness. Such as World Down Syndrome Day (March 21),
World Autism Awareness Day (April 2), and International Day of
Persons with Disabilities (December 3).
Countries around the world are encouraged to celebrate
these days with activities that highlight individuals with
disabilities. In many of these events, people with disabilities
come together to show case their abilities and talents in talent
shows, symposiums, and conventions. These events bring
together “able” and “disabled” people in the spirit of friendship
and cooperation.