INTERSUBJECTIVITY
MARILOU E. MANDRIQUE
Activity # 3
1. Do you believe that people who are
disabled and unprevileged are still able to
contribute to society?
2. How will you be able to show
appreciation for the skills and talents of a
persons with disabilities and
unprevileged?
Intersubjectivity is a term used
in philosophy,psychology,
sociology and anthropology to
represent the psychological
relation between people.
Intersubjectivity
• Intersubjectivity is a coined word from the
prefix “inter” which connotes “among
and between” and the philosophical term
“subject” that is equivalent to a
conscious being. Thus, intersubjectivity
would mean in the general sense as
“sharing of subjective states by two or
more individuals.” (Scheff 2006).
•It is the organic union of the
subjective reality and the objective
reality of beings. Meaning to say, as a
person, we have a personal regard to
self but we cannot deny the fact
(objective – fact of reality we all
share) that we live with others so we
also regard them as part of ourselves.
Intersubjectivity
• it also teaches us to see others as the
extension of ourselves. That if weare
experiencing difficulties, so are they. we
have different ways of dealing with
problems or situations, each according to
our own limitation and orientations.
•thus, none of us is privileged to
call people names or labels
others much more judge others
because of thier shortcomings
or decisions that didn’t yield
positive results.
What Philosophers Say About
Intersubjectivity
Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.) – one of the main
ideas of Confucianism is Ren or “human-
heartedness.” It is a virtue central to man that
can be found in his sociality or intersubjectivity.
In his philosophy, Confucius stresses order and
harmony in the world. His aims can be achieved
through practical, concrete, particular, and
perceptual ways. This means Confucian thinking
on intersubjectivity is practical humanism. There
is an emphasis on human actions in sociality. He
calls every man to love the other through
actions, not through thoughts.
Martin Buber (1878-1965)
is a Jewish philosopher who
introduced the “I-Thou” and “I-
It” relationships to embody his
philosophy of intersubjectivity.
For Buber, we have to treat
another person as a subject (a
being different from things or
objects).
Martin Buber
• Persons are not inanimate objects to be used. They
have their own mind and free will, thus, we have to
respect others as we respect ourselves. “I” refers to
the self and “Thou” or “You” refers to others. This “I-
Thou” relationship is the most meaningful relationship
in the realm of humanity. The “I” is the same with the
“Thou” and there should be mutual relationship
between them. We can only recognize the self in the
context of the other. This is a “person-to-person”
relationship, “subject-to-subject” relation. We need to
accept, respect, be sincere, and have dialogue with
the other.
Karol Wojtyla (1920-2005)
He is also St. John Paul II but as
a philosopher, we use his real
name. For Wojtyla, human
action is the foundation of our
being. But human reality is
also about being with others,
so our actions are also directed
towards others.
Man has the capacity to share himself
to others. This affirms the reality that
man acts and exists with others. He is
a member of the community of
persons, a community of “I-You” or
“We.” Since man is a member of this
community, his experience with
others gives him meaning and allows
him to create meaning with others.
Important Value/s Related to Intersubjectivity
• Acceptance of differences and embracing
diversity
• We understand that each person is unique,
therefore, differences will exist among groups
of people.
• We have to accept that people will have
differnt views and beliefs
• What unites us all is our shared humanity and
dignity.
Characterics of a genuine human relationship
• Empathy- the ablity to share emotions. it
is driven by a person’s awareness of a
person’s thoughts and feeling
• Empathy enables us to experience
another person’s emotions such as
happiness, anger and sadness.
Availabilty
•the willingness od a person to be
present and be at the disposal od
another you are there for a person
who might need your help - the
characteristics of being useful to
others and do something for them.
Ethics of Care
• An ethical theory that emphasizes the moral
dimension of relationships and interaction.
• It encourages individuals to help other people,
most especially the vulnurable - philosophers
believe that people have a moral obligation to
respond to the needs of people; and one
cannot turn a blind eye on the problem of
others.
Alienation
• Some people view other people negatively and
consider human action as being infleunced by
self-interest.
• This arises when a person ceases to view the
other as distinct and authentic person and
merely considers the other person as a mere
object or a means to satisfy personal interests.