6

INTERSUBJECTIVE HUMAN RELATIONS

1. realize that intersubjectivity requires accepting differences and not imposing on others
2. explain that authentic dialogue means accepting others even if they are different from themselves
3. perform activities that demonstrate an appreciation for the talents of persons with disabilities and
those from the underprivileged sectors of society

We have made it philosophers! Indeed, freedom entails great responsibilities, not only power,
but we can empower our choices in life. To practice this free will, let us deal with the responsibilities to
our kins, our own mankind!

ACTIVITY NO. 1 Complete the concept map.

______

______ ______
What makes
me different
from
others?
______ ______

______
 Answer the questions briefly.

1. Why is there a difference?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

2. How do we accept differences?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Let’s take some notes!

During the course of discussion in the following lesson content, make sure to take significant
handwritten notes following the prescribed note-taking pattern (Cornell Note-Taking Method).

Intersubjectivity
The process and product of sharing experiences, knowledge, understandings, and expectations
with others. A key feature of social constructionism, symbolic interactionism, and phenomenological
approaches generally. The existence, nature, and meaning of things is not entirely up to the individual
but subject to social and linguistic constraints within a culture or subculture (there has to be some
degree of consensus or communication would be impossible; see also linguistic turn). The concept of
intersubjectivity not only counters the undiluted subjectivism of extreme philosophical idealism but also
the pure objectivism of naïve realism, since the same constraints filter our apprehension of the world.
Things and their meanings are intersubjective to the extent that we share common understandings of
them. Cultural identity is experienced through intersubjectivity

https://echopen.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/intersubjectivity-and-interpersonal-brighter-side/
 We all know that humans are social creatures so we seek to establish attachments and
relationships with others. Our obligation is to engage into a meaningful interaction with others and
everything that surrounds us and it is rooted from our past self-awareness and transcendence.
Interpersonal Relations are made possible when the self becomes aware of the other the other
includes everyone and everything outside our human nature
It enables us to recognize the self that defines our individuality. It also enables us to recognize
that the other human beings also possess a self. The notion of recognizing the self in the other is how
philosophers defined the interpersonal relations and the interaction between the self and the other is
related to the philosophical concept of inter subjectivity which is the mutual recognition of each other
as persons. This also means a unique relationship between distinct subjects. So, it refers to the
characteristic of the human person to engage in a very intimate and personal relationship with others
who are different from him or her but who are also the same in some ways.

https://freepngimg.com/png/18454-team-work-download-png

Philosophers identifying various Level of Self - Other relationship:

1. Awareness over the existence of the other
We can see that there are people that exist. We know aside from us that there is a meaningful
existence of others. So, at home, we can see our family members and we are aware that they
exist when we go outside, we know that we are also aware that other people exist.
2. Awareness of the self as being seen by others
This is the deeper level of interaction between the self and the other. For example, one of the
passersby approached you and suddenly you know he/she stares at you. You are immediately
aware that the action is made by another and this other is looking at you or staring at you. Another
fact is that this other who is staring at you is aware that you are a person. This self-consciousness
is considered by philosophers as a defining characteristic of the self - other relationship.
3. Awareness of the self in the other
Here, we act depending on how we want to present ourselves to people and with people.
This is influenced by our ideas of how these people see us. For example, we act as an obedient
student in the class, so the teachers assume that we are really under an obedient student.
However, we act differently when we are with our friends because our friends see us as a jolly
person or like a happy go lucky person and that is how we establish ourselves through them. So,
that is how they view or perceive us. We act differently depending on the people who we are with.
We present ourselves to them and that is the reason why we know that they have ideas of our
perceptions of who we are because of what we have shown to them. These actions are referred to
as ‘seeming’. It means that an individual presents himself or herself in a certain way when dealing
with others.
 http://acevedocitizenship.weebly.com/unit-3-interpersonal-skills.html

What characterizes genuine human interaction?

When two individuals begin to view each other as another and recognize one’s differences, that
is the beginning of an authentic relationship through a dialogue.
What is a dialogue?
Dialogue is an interaction between persons that happens through speech through speech on the
use of words, expressions, and body language. We normally think of it as a communication which
usually occurs in a conversation but again dialogue is not confined with words. It includes gestures,
body languages, and anything that conveys a message or anything that conveys emotions or thoughts.
We are aware that we are not alone in conveying information or conveying our emotion towards the
other.
We are also capable of receiving words or thoughts and emotions from other people. This is
what makes authentic dialogue. It is when we share our feelings with each other. When we share our
thoughts or stories of one another, dialogue occurs when two persons open up to each other and give
and receive one another. That is the time that we begin to have an understanding relationship with one
another because we accept differences and uniqueness.
When we undergo a relationship, we have an “I – thou” relationship wherein we experience
authentic relationships with other people through dialogue as authentic relationships means ending up
into a dialogue you know that it is not more than just a conversation but it is an opening up. We are
sharing each other's lives although we are different from each other, although we are unique from one
another but we respect and we value the other person. So, we value and respect them the way we
want to be respected and to be valued. So, only through this can we attain an authentic relationship
and only through this can we understand the value of each other's relationship.

Three Aspects of Intersubjectivity

1. Empathy. I guess we’re familiar with the word empathy. When we say empathy, we put
ourselves into the other people’s shoes. It is the ability not to share emotions but it enables us to
experience another person’s emotions.
2. Availability. It is the willingness of a person to be present and be at the disposal of one
another so when somebody needs us here, there, and right now. No matter what, like or time, we
make ourselves available especially if they need us or if somebody or our loved ones need us.
3. Ethics of care. Proponents of this aspect believe that people have a moral obligation to
respond to the needs of other people and one cannot turn a blind eye to the problems of others.
This moral perspective encourages us to help other people especially those who are vulnerable.
The essence of inter subjectivity is that; we have to fill in with other emotional needs; we have
to be available; and we have to care for others.
 Not all interaction is positive. There are other people who view others negatively and some
actions are influenced by selfish interests. A person adopting this is said to be experiencing
alienation. This is actually the opposite of the dialogue.

https://www.communicationtheory.org/marxist-theory-of-alienation/

Alienation arises when a person seizes to view the other as a distinct and authentic person and
considers a person as a mere object or a means to satisfy personal interests (I-it relationship). It means
like others see a person as an object, so they treat the person as an object. They only talk to another
person because they need something from them or to satisfy their wants with them. In the Philippine
context, it is known to be “manggagamit” or taking advantage over the vulnerability of one.

Now, let us ask ourselves and assess how far have we gone through in this life with these ending
questions;
Do we value people the same way as we do?
Do we treat them the same way as we wanted to be treated?

POWERLINK: https://youtu.be/WnXuQzH978Q

REFERENCE:

Oxford Reference (2021) Accessed on September 20, 2020 at

https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100008603

Catalan, C. M. & Catalan, A. (2021) Unit 6 Inter Subjectivity video presentation. Accessed on
September 20, 2021 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dR-QECFnA8