The Person and Others

(INTERSUBJECTIVITY)
By: Ms. Che N. Villamarzo
FPPT.com
Let’s Ponder
Think of the people you
encounter everyday.
Identify the person to
whom you are mostly
likely to say the following
statements.Write their
name on the blanks.
•“How are you today?”
•“ Did your hear the latest news
•“I just came back from a party
last night.”
•“What do you think I
should do with my life?”
•“I appreciate everything you
have done for me.”
•Without you my life will have no
meaning.”
ANALYSIS
1. What sets apart the people whom you
are close to from the casual
acquaintances in your life?
2. Whom are the people that you consider
the easiest to relate to? Whom do you
find difficult to get along with?
3. What does having a meaningful
relationship with others mean to you?
ABSTRACTION
Human have the natural and universal tendency to relate, to establish
attachments, and seek close relationships with other people.
How does an individual relate with other person?
Existentialism and phenomenology are the major
philosophical branches that devote much discussion on the
concept of interpersonal relations.
•These philosophies relate the concept of interpersonal relations to
self- awareness and transcendence.

•The individual is primarily aware of himself or herself, and it is this

egocentric perspective that defines how he or she perceives and
relate to reality.
This awareness of individuality is called the “self”.

•Existentialist – defines interpersonal relations as the “self”

being aware on himself or herself.
•The “other” generally refers to objects outside of personal
experience.
INTERSUBJECTIVITY
A philosophical concept that refer to interaction between the
self and the other.
Which is the shared awareness and understanding among
persons.
Evident in every social interactions:
• Ability to agree and cooperate
• Shared common knowledge
• Consensus Levels of self-other interaction:
• Shared emotions (grief, joy & 1. Simple awareness of the
love) existence of the other.
2. Uniqueness from other beings
3. Exist outside of our own
awareness or perception.
Deeper Level:
1. Awareness of being seen by others
2. Strangers looking at your direction
3. Someone is staring at you is aware
of you as a person.
Self-Consciousness – is considered by
philosophers as a defining characteristics
of the self-other relationship.
• Now imagine that the person
is not a stranger but someone
familiar: a family member, a
friend even your crush.

• This awareness of the person

staring at you will initially
result in feelings of
consciousness, even shame.
Questions will begin running in your head such as:

“What he or she thinking when he or she looks at me”

“Am I doing something wrong”

“Is there something wrong with the way I look?”

•This is considered as an SEEMING – referred
unconscious, natural act on the part by Martin Buber as
of humans. individual presents
himself in a certain
•However, there may be instances way when dealing
when people behave a certain way with others.
in order to intentionally deceive or
manipulate other people.
Dialogue – much deeper level of interaction that
refers to a genuine relationship established
among individuals.
• It is made possible when self realizes that the
other is a genuine and unique individual.

• When two individuals begin to view each other

as another – that is, truly acknowledging
each other’s presence – then that is the
beginning of an authentic relationship and a
dialogue.
Jean-Paul Sartre considers
human relationship as
frustrating and are often
inauthentic and
ambiguous.
Humans tend to view others
as a means to achieve certain
desires.
Alienation –where an
individual ceases to view
the other as a distinct and
authentic person, and
considers him as a mere
object.
 Karl Marx believes that
alienation gives rise to the
exploitation of people.

Other Philosophers who have

positive view of human
interaction and believe that
humans seek and are able to
achieve and maintain genuine.
Edith Stein defines the
self-other relationship
as being driven by
empathy – the
awareness that the
other is a person with
thoughts and feelings.
Edmund Husserl believes
that intersubjectivity is
more than just shared
understanding, but it is
the capability to put
oneself “ in the place
where the other is.
• Gabriel Marcel defines
genuine relationship
based on availability or
the willingness of a
person to be present
and be at the disposal
of another.
•Ethics of Care emphasizes the moral
dimension of relationships and
interactions.

•This moral perspective encourages

individuals to see to the needs of other
people, most especially the vulnerable.
APPLICATION
Think: Write the names of four
people with whom you have a
genuine relationship. Inside the
spaces provided, write how they
have contributed to your growth
as a person.
 PERSON

PERSON ME PERSON

PERSON
 END……
THANK YOU