Lesson 2: Intersubjectivity is also compromise of

three groups of letters and/or words, namely;

a. Inter = means between;
b. subject = person or a thing that is being
discussed with;
c. –ity = state or condition
We can conclude that intersubjectivity
means a condition of relationship between
subjects or persons. If I relate with a friend
for example, and he or she related back to
me, intersubjectivity occurs.
Philosophically, this means that
when the Self recognizes the Other
and the Other recognizes the Self,
intersubjectivity happens.
To further get its meaning, study the excerpt from the song, ‘Awitin Mo at
Isasayaw Ko ‘ by VST & Co.

Ang isang pag-ibig

Ay parang lansangan
Na pandalawahan
Kaya't sa ating awit,
Tayo ay magbigayan
 Can you determine
which line or stanza above
talks about intersubjectivity?
Why do you say so?
Intersubjectivity also carries the
unique relationship between
separate individuals or subjects.
 When we say unique, we are referring
to the relationship that a human person
may experience when he or she engages
in a very intimate and personal
relationship with others.
 When a person, for example, loves
others, he or she gives himself or herself
to them and at the same time receives
them into his or her life and vice versa.
 This mutual self-giving and receiving
becomes possible because of the person's
inner lite or interiority (panloob na buhay)
where his or her thoughts, feelings, inner
struggles, reactions, and the like resides."
 I believe that there is someone in your life-a
parent, friend, or a mentor whom you feel very
close with. Maybe because of this closeness,
both of you are able to share to each other
your inner thoughts and feelings without any
reservation.
 How does feel then to
understand and be
understood by someone?
How does feel then to
love and be loved in
return by this person?
 Intersubjectivity or the Self-Other interaction comes
in two levels, which are:
a. First Level - the simple awareness of the
Self about the existence of the other
b. Deeper Level - the awareness of the Self
as being seen by Others
Actually, you have constantly experienced
these two levels of interaction in your life. For
instance, as you are reading this module by the
window, you have noticed that there are
people who are passing by your house.
In an instant, you have become aware of the
presence of these people who are both similar
and different from you in many aspects. This
noticing or becoming aware of the presence of
Others already illustrates the first level of self-
other interaction.
But then suppose that one of them suddenly
stops and looks straight at you in the eyes,
automatically you will become aware that this
person is also conscious of your own presence
as a person.
This particular self-consciousness
marks the deeper level of self-
other interaction.
 The awareness of the self in the other is an
important element in all other aspects of
interpersonal interactions. The way we act or
react with others is often influenced by our
ideas of how these people see us.
 Oftentimes, we modify our behavior
depending on where we are. Our behavior
in the church, for example, is different
from our behavior when are at a lively
party.
 These actions of presenting yourself in a
certain way when dealing with others or
your social context is what we referred to
as seeming
WHAT IS SEEMING?
As reported by Collins Dictionary, it
means appearing to be the case, but not
necessarily the case.
For example, if you talk about someone's seeming
ability to do something, you mean that they appear to be
able to do it, but you are not certain.
 Seeming may behave in two forms

Positive Seeming Negative Seeming

the pleasant behavior we being plastic," "sipsip or when
showed when we are in a sacred expressing manipulative
place or in the presence of a very behaviors to promote selfish
important person interests.
 Lesson 3: Authentic Dialogue
Most of our human interactions actually are based
not on deception (panlinlang) but on truth. Because
of our dignity and goodness, our interactions are
geared toward what is good and beneficial. This
deeper and more genuine interaction is called
dialogue.
A genuine dialogue is attained when all of
the following conditions are present:
a. When the Self realizes that the
Other is a unique or distinct person
A genuine dialogue is attained when all of
the following conditions are present:
A genuine dialogue is attained when all of
the following conditions are present:
c. When the two persons truly
acknowledging the presence of each
other.
 Have you experienced then having a genuine dialogue with someone? What do you
think is the difference between having a casual conversation with a stranger on recent
events and discussing more personal issues like Me goal, emotional problems, or
moral dilemmas with your friends or family?
 Philosophically, a dialogue can only
occur when the words uttered and/or the
actions and gestures performed are rooted
in one's inner life or interiority.
 That is why, only beings with interiority (panloob
na buhay) are capable of engaging in dialogue. A
person's words, expressions, and body language
becomes the way by which he or she is able to
express a part of himself or herself to another
person.
 On the other hand, the person is also capable here
of receiving the words, thoughts, emotions, and
ideas of another person. A dialogue, therefore,
happens when two persons open up to each other
and give and receive one another in their
encounter.
 Have you seen a
mother caressing her
new-born child?
Do you think that a
genuine or authentic
dialogue occurs
between them? Why?
Why not?
 Lesson 4: Interaction with the
Disadvantaged
We have the capacity to experience to share the
emotions of others as empathy, which is also an
important aspect of intersubjectivity.
 Empathy can be also understood as "feeling in" or
"placing yourself into the shoes of another.
It also enables you not only to share your someone’s
grief and offer him or her comfort during this
difficulty, but also to own the grief of that person
even if it was not your own.
 Availability is the willingness of a person to be
present and be at the disposal of another. Us
filipinos are actually very good at this, we go to an
unfamiliar place and we normally ask our
kababayans for help. The concept of availability
means that you are willing to be at one's side 24/7.
 The ethics of care can help us
understand why need to make ourselves
available for others. This encourages
individuals to help other people and it is
our moral obligation to do so.
 Let us say, a stranger approaches you in the street asking for help, will you try to
help that person or will you ignore him or her? If you choose to ignore him or her,
what could be some of the possible reasons of doing so?
 There are people who would simply ignores
those who seek for their help. Some have a
negative view about human relationships and
often suspect that any form of human action is
being influenced by selfish interests.
 They are not genuine or even deceptive
(mapanlinlang). When a person adopts
this kind of view, he or she is said to be
experiencing alienation.
 Alienation occurs:
• when a person stops to view the other as an
authentic person and merely considers the
other person as a mere object to satisfy his
or her personal interests.
In spite of negative experiences we still
extend our hands in building a
community of harmony.
Community of Harmony also means:
• It empowers people in any
context to be active citizens
and to generate ideas at a
grassroots level
Community of Harmony also means:
• About thinking together in a non-
confrontational and truly democratic way.
Concepts are questioned. Power shifts, minds
change and preconceptions are discarded.