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Introduction to the Philosophy of the

Human Person
Quarter 2
Module 2: Intersubjectivity

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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person-Grade 11
Quarter 2- Module 2: Intersubjectivity

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writers: Liza Q. Zantua

Editors: Arminda G. David, Principal I / Jaspy C. Silanga, English

Reviewers: Mr. Dario I. Cabanela . EPS / Darcy Guy Y. Maňebo, EPS

Illustrator: Liza Q. Zantua

Layout Artist: Liza Q. Zantua

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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person-Grade 11
Quarter 2- Module 2: Intersubjectivity

I. Introduction

You live in this world surrounded by different people with different

personality. Like you, as student, relating with others and settling your diversity is not always
an easy task but a task for you to endure, accept and embrace since you desire to live
peacefully and meaningfully. There is a saying that “no man is an island”. How could you
achieve and maintain a fulfilling relationship with others who are different from you?

This will be the thrust of this module.

II. Objectiv

After studying this module, you should be able to:

1. Realize that intersubjectivity requires accepting differences and not imposing others
on what to do, act or think
2. Explain that authentic dialogue means accepting others even if they are different from
others.
3. Perform activities that demonstrate appreciation for the talents of persons with
disabilities and those from the underprivileged sectors of society.

III. Vocabulary List

 Alienation
It is a state of being cut of or separate from a person or group of people.
 Alter-ego
It means alternative self, which believed to be distinct from a person’s normal or true
original personality.

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 Dialogue
Deeper and more genuine relationship through open conversation between person.
 Diversity
Differences in racial and ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, and
academic/professional backgrounds.
 Deceptive
Giving an appearance or impression different from one the true one.
 Ethics of care
Ethical theory that holds that moral action centers on interpersonal relationships and
care as a virtue.
 Genuine relationship
Manifesting an honest, truthful, and sincere way in their relationship with other
people.
 Human nature
Refers to the characteristics that distinguish humans from all other creatures
 Interpersonal relationship
A strong, deep, or close association or acquaintance between two or more people that
may range in duration from brief to enduring.
 Other
Used to refer to a person or thing that is different or distinct from one already
mentioned or known about.
 Person
Refers to a human being granted recognition of certain rights, protection,
responsibilities and dignity.
 Personhood
Refers to the state of being a person
 Self
It is an individual person as the object of its own reflective consciousness.
 Self-perception
Interpretation of one’s attitudes and preferences of his/her own behavior.
 Transcendence
The existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level.

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 IV. Pre - Test

Before studying this module, answer the question below to find out what you already
know about the topic to be discussed. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it
is wrong. Write your answer in your notebook.

______ 1. All human beings find it difficult to have a meaningful relationship with others.

______2. Intersubjectivity refers to shared awareness and understanding among people.

______3. Empathy requires an individual to accept other as thinking and emotional person.

______4. Man has the natural tendency to establish relationships with other people.

______5. The views and ideas of other people, as well as social context, do not influence our
behavior as individuals.

V. Learning Activities

Learner Activity 1. Think of Me!

It is a human nature that you are closely attached to someone. For instance, you have
a problem that you cannot tell to your parents but you can confide it to your friend. In this
activity, think of the people you encounter every day. Identify the persons to whom you are
most likely to say the following statements. Write their names on the blanks.

“I appreciate everything you have done for me.”

_________________________________________

“I have a crush with my classmate.”

_________________________________________

“I hate my teacher because he/she is so bookish.”

_________________________________________

“What do you think I should do with my life?”

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_________________________________________

“I failed in my final exam.”

_________________________________________

Process Question: (2 points each)

Who are the people that you consider the easiest to relate to? Whom you find difficult to get
along with?

What does having a meaningful relationship with others mean to you?

Learner Activity 2. Relate Much!

Being a human, you have a natural and universal tendency to relate, to establish make
attachment, and seek close relationship with other people. Your human nature drives you to
reach out to other people and interact with them in meaningful ways.

Take a look at the following pictures. List down 5 sentences that describe the relationship
between the family members. Write your answer in your notebook.

https://healthy-kids.com.au/parents/developing-positive-eating-
behaviours/family-meals/

1._________________________________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________________________________

http://www.digitalparenting.ie/technology-addiction.html 6
4._________________________________________________________________________
5._________________________________________________________________________

Process Question: (2 points each)

1.Which of family members do you prefer.The first family or the second one?Why?

2. How could you have a good relationship to others?

Learner Activity 3. Your Name Please?

Instruction: Look at the graphic organizer below. Make a graphic organizer in your
notebook and write in the boxes the names of four people with whom you have genuine
relationships. Write also how they have contributed to your growth as a person.

ME

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 Did You Know:

st be aware and know yourself as a rational individual capable of determined and reasonable action to have meaningful int

The meaning and the process of Intersubjectivity

Each person has a subjective experience of the world. However, because of the
subjective experience one cannot know which events occur in reality or which are product of
self-perception. 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 inter-subjectivity which mean the shared perception of reality
between or among two or more individual. A main principle of inter-subjectivity is
communization, 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 life experiences. This is much like the
concept of empathy.

What characterizes a genuine human interaction?

Since your human nature drives you to uphold dignity and goodness, your interactions
with others are also geared toward what is good and beneficial. These lead human to strive to
achieve deeper and more substantial interaction and relations with other people. This deeper
and more genuine interaction is called a dialogue, and this is made possible when the self
realizes that the other is a genuine and unique individual. When two individuals begin to

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view each other as an other – that is, truly acknowledging each other presence – then that is
the beginning of an authentic relationship and a dialogue.

How does inter-subjectivity define our interactions with other persons?

Empathy, is an important aspect of inter-subjectivity. Human persons are actively

aware of the emotional states of other people, and they use this information to determine their
own action and behaviour. This emotion is driven by person’s awareness that the other is a
person with thoughts and feelings. It enables an individual to experience another person’s
emotions, such as happiness, anger, and sadness. For instance, how would you behave around
a friend who just informed you that his or her parent has died? Empathy enables you not only
to share your friend’s grief and offer him/her comfort, but also to feel the grief of that person
even if it was not your own relative’s death.

Another characteristic of meaningful and genuine human relationships is the

availability, the willingness of a person to be present and be at the disposal of another.

The ethics of care emphasizes the moral dimension of relationship and interactions.
This moral perspective encourages individuals to help other people, most especially the
vulnerable one.

Not all human interactions, however, are positive. These are those who view other
people negatively and consider human actions as being influence by selfish interest. This
pessimistic view considers human relationships as frustrating and often inauthentic or
deceptive. A person that adopt this negative view is said to be experiencing alienation, which
goes against the concept of personhood because this view discounts the humanity and dignity
of a person which leads to dehumanization.

How can philosophy help you evaluate your relationships with others?

Important values related to inter-subjectivity include the acceptance of differences and

embracing diversity because you want to live with peace and unity. Each person is unique,
therefore, differences will exist among the groups of people. 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 concerns toward others, especially toward individuals or
group that experiencing hardship and discrimination. For instance, those who are physically

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and mentally challenge often experience hardship because of their condition. We have to
realize, however, that these people who are marginalized may still be seen as significant
contributors to society through their talents, skills, and capabilities.

Let’s See What You Have Learned

I. Practice Tasks
Practice Task #1 Walk in my shoes

In your school, you and your

schoolmates have your own differences regarding gender, personal issues, beliefs, cultures,
traditions and social upbringing that caused misunderstanding that are most likely affect the
development and improvement of an individual. Imagine that your schoolmate cease to call
each other by their names and instead to highlight their physical flaws.

Study the picture below and list down at least 5 interactions that you must show to
them write your answer in your notebook and answer the following question.

https://eu.clipdealer.com/vector/media/A:84138427

1._________________________________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________________________________
4._________________________________________________________________________
5._________________________________________________________________________

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Process Question: (2 points each answer.)

1. Do you think that there will still be harmony in your school? Explain.
2. How would you feel if you were treated in this manner? Explain.
3. What do you think will happen if this behavior becomes prevalent in our society?

Practice Task #2 Relate and Help

People relate to each other in different ways and this gives rise to varying degrees of
dependence among people. Those who are able to help or give assistance should consider the
specific needs of the people they are helping.

Look at the following situation in pictures. What can you do to lend assistance to these
people who manifest genuine interaction with them? Write your answer in your notebook.

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Process Question: (2 points each)

1. Have you had an opportunity to apply ethics of care in your everyday life? Describe
your experience.
2. How does establishing “dialogue” with others benefit a person?

Practice Task #3 Guess Who?

There are people from other sectors of the

society who have physical disabilities or socio economic challenges with potentials and
talents as anybody else. This time, you will choose one person whose picture is shown below
and write about his/her life and works and their significant contributions. Write your answer
in your notebook.

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 https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/newsfeatures-peopleparties/63919/10-inspiring-handicapable-filipinos
LET US

ASSESS:

1. Do you believe that people who are disabled and underprivileged are
still able to contribute to society? Explain.
2. How will you able to show appreciation for the skills and talents of persons with
disabilities and underprivileged?
3. Have you ever engaged in a genuine and meaningful interaction with another person?
How it affects you?
4. What enables human persons to establish meaningful interactions with others?
5. How inter-subjectivity related to self-awareness and transcendence?

VII. Post

MULTIPLE CHOICE.

Direction: Read carefully and analyze the statements below. Choose the letter of the correct
answer. Write your answer in your notebook

1. Which of the following is the best example of inter-subjectivity?

a. Ben has always loved dogs. When his parents let him choose a family pet, he picks a
Labrador puppy from the shelter
b. When Anna was twelve, her sister told her that pickles are rotten cucumbers. Because of
this, Anna now orders all her burgers without pickles
c. When Sarah was fifteen, she went exploring in a cave and became trapped. And she is
now afraid of closed spaces

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 d. Tony was born with vision in only one eye. Because of this, he sometimes has difficulty
perceived depth.
2. Which of the following statement is true?
a. Most people with disabilities cannot work
b. Human person can live on his own without the help of others
c. It is impossible to appreciate PWD’s and those underprivileged sectors of the society
d. Everybody deserves to be treated as human being no matter what he/she looks like
3. Dialogue is an exchange in which people discover something new. This best means?
a. Dialogue helps people to discover themselves more
b. Dialogue helps people to tolerate others more
c. Dialogue helps people to share understanding of greater truth about life
d. Dialogue helps people to conduct research
4. Authentic dialogue includes which of the following?
a. Active Listening
b. Empathy
c. Respect
d. All of the above
5. The ability to engage in an authentic dialogue is a key skill for maintaining
relationships. This statement is?
a. True, it builds on inter-subjectivity
b. True, however it is not essential to inter-subjectivity
c. False, it is essential to inter-subjectivity
d. False, it does not build on inter-subjectivity
6. Which of the following signifies authentic dialogue towards accepting other people
even if they are different?
a. A boy sarcastically laughs at his friend after knowing about his flaws.
b. Krishna cried on her knees after learning about the pressing problems of the
minorities in their community.
c. The manager rejected the job application of a person with disability even if he is
qualified.
d. A and c
7. The result of authentic dialogue includes the following except?
a. Unity
b. Division

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 c. Peace and order
d. Harmony
8. It refers to the willingness of a person to be present and be at the disposal of another?
a. Availability
b. Empathy
c. Ethics of care
d. Alienation
9. The human person is not just being-in-the-world but being-with-others, or being-in-
relation. One great example of this is?

a. Hatred to your enemy

b. Sincerity and concern to others
c. Children exploitation
d. Bullying

10. Refers to ethical theory that emphasizes the moral dimension of relationships and
interaction?
a. Availability
b. Empathy
c. Ethics of care
d. Alienation

VIII. Assignment/Additional

Look for a person with disability or those from the underprivileged sectors in your
community who has lived a productive and meaningful life despite his/her disability. Write
about his life and work and their significant contributions in your society. Write it in your
separate sheet.

IX. Answer Key

PRE- TEST

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 1. False
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. False

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1 Guided and process questions.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2 ANSWERS MAY VARY.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3

PRACTICE TASK # 1 Guided and process questions.

PRACTICE TASK # 2 ANSWERS MAY VARY.

PRACTICE TASK # 3

POST TEST

PART I.

1. A
2. D
3. C
4. D
5. A
6. B
7. B
8. A
9. B
10. C

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References
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Roberto D. Abella, M.Div., D.Min
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Christine Carmela Ramos

Online Resources
Source: Alex Grey, "One," oil on linen, 1999-2000, www.alexgrey.com
http://clipart-library.com/book-cliparts.html
https://www.pinclipart.com/pindetail/iiRmJiw_overview-clipart-objective-course-objectives-png-
download/
https://www.kindpng.com/imgv/hTJbRT_book-clipart-images-cartoon-transparent-background-
books-png/
https://www.clipart1001.com/thinking-light-bulb-clipart-for-kid/
http://clipart-library.com/free/thinking-clipart-transparent.html
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/stressed-school-student-filling-out-answers-
465599099

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