Intersubjectivity

Philosophy of the Human
Person: Intersubjectivity
Key Questions
• What does it mean to be “humans”?
• How does one’s relationship with fellow

human beings help him understand and
enrich his own humanity?
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
define and explain the meaning and the process of
intersubjectivity,
1. discuss the application and importance of
intersubjectivity to society,
2. prove that authentic dialogue means accepting others
even if they are different from you, and
3. demonstrate an appreciation for the talents of persons
with disabilities and those from the underprivileged
sectors of society.
Whenever an unfortunate
event occurs, you feel sad or
anxious, but how do you
assure yourself that those
feelings are real?
In looking at the example, it is easy to
say that interacting with others can
confirm the validity of emotions a
person may have towards the
environment. In this interaction,
intersubjectivity takes place.
The Meaning and Process of Intersubjectivity
Each person has a subjective experience of
the world. However, because of this subjective
experience, one cannot know which events
occur in reality or which products of self-
perception are.
Social interactions among individuals through
comparison, agreement, and confirmation of each
other’s' perceptions make it easier to determine
real events occurring in society. This concept is
called intersubjectivity the shared perception of
reality between or among two or more
individuals.
communarization, a social process wherein the
community of other people are seen as
embedded within the self. This process initially
occurs with the idea that other individuals are
extensions of the self and serve as the “alter-
ego” of a person’s being. The self and others are
therefore seen as a pair that shares each other’s
lived experiences. This is much like the concept
of empathy or “being in the shoes” of others.
The Application of
Intersubjectivity
to Society
Because intersubjectivity looks at others as
embedded 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 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 society with little
regard to social or physical deficiencies. In effect,
people who are marginalized may still be seen as
significant contributors to society through their
talents, skills, and capabilities.
Below are some authentic examples of disadvantaged individuals
who have significantly contributed to society:
1. Stephen Hawking 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 physics.
2. 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 richest women
alive today.
The Use of Authentic Dialogue
Authentic dialogue is a form of interpersonal
communication wherein individuals acknowledge that
they are part of a greater whole and that they resonate with
others within the whole. This occurs when individuals
learn to set aside their personal biases and begin seeing
themselves in others through communarization. In this
sense, other people, including the marginalized sector, are
seen as functional parts of a whole.
No biases or preferences are exemplified
during the dialogue because an individual
has learned to perceive and communicate
with others with a sense of community and
oneness.
Examples:
Accepting your classmates’ opinion on
government services because his experience with
transacting with government employees is different
from yours.
Overlooking the fact that your boss yelled at you
since you understand that he only did so out of
concern over an urgent matter.
The Importance of Intersubjectivity
Intersubjectivity has significant contributions to society and
relationships, including the following:
1.It validates real and authentic subjective experiences.
2. It facilitates interaction among individuals.
3. It enables individuals to look at others equally, regardless of
any physical or socio-demographic factor.
4. It promotes a sense of community and unity among
individuals.
5. It emphasizes that anyone can contribute to society.
#KEY POINTS#
Intersubjectivity is a concept where social interactions
among individuals through comparison, agreement,
and confirmation of each other's perceptions make it
easier to determine real events occurring in society.
Communarization is a social process wherein the
community of other people are seen as embedded
within the self.
An authentic dialogue is a form of interpersonal
communication wherein individuals acknowledge
that they are part of a greater whole and that they
resonate with others within the whole.
Intersubjectivity is important because it validates
authentic subjective experiences, facilitates
interactions, and promotes a sense of unity and
community among individuals.

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Philosophy of the Human

• What does it mean to be “humans”?

• How does one’s relationship with fellow

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