Intersubjectivity

• Intersubjectivity

  "realm of existence to which a preposition with properly applies," said Gabriel Marcel; deeper connection beyond more than physical presence
• To be with


  Signifies co-presence, an openness of my presence to the presence of another person
• The treatment of a human person

  As a "problem" from that of a "mystery." Being a mystery, the human being is removed from the category of things, or "having."
• Living

  In general term covers plant, animal, and human life; Gabriel Marcel argues that there is more to human life other than vital signs we share with animals in general. This is evident to some people who experienced the loss for the drive to live.
• Human living


  Living for the other than itself
• Matthew 10:39: '"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it"'
• People who live for others are those who feel more fulfilled. Examples are saints, martyrs, and heroes.
• Luke 17:33: '"Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it"'
• Intersubjectivity


  A state in which one recognizes one's being as a being-with-others. The center of one's life is on the care for the welfare of another.
• Totalization


  The limitation to the other to a set of rational categories, like racial, sexual, etc. It is a denial of the other's difference.
• "At home"


  A place where we feel comfortable; like circle of friends or family
• "Namamahay"


  Newness; an experience of discomfort due to the strangeness of the place.
• Levinas: '"The other is the stranger who disturbs the being at home with oneself"'
• For Levinas, this feeling of familiarity prevents a genuine encounter with the other.
• "The other remains infinitely transcendent, infinitely foreign"

  There is always something about the other that will escape you. You don't fully know a person.
• The human person


  Is not a fixed and self-enclosed entity, but a dynamic and moving individuality as it is constantly opened up by possibilities.
• Transcendent


  Above and beyond
• A genuine encounter with another person is an invitation to go beyond what you see, what is given.
• To label people, to judge and act on them according to these labels is to kill what is transcendent in the person
• Levinas tells us that the tendency to totalize the other person is more common because most of us are afraid of uncertainty.
• The darkness of the unknown


  The source of instability for the absolute power.
• A category

  A preconception amounting to a pre-judgement; example: social classes like elitista, jologs, conyo, and jejemon labels on race like tisoy, negro
• For Reinhold Neibur, a category serves as barrier that prevents us from having a real encounter with another person
• The parable of The Good Samaritan


  • The priest and the Levite refused to touch and help the fallen man in the street because they were too caught with their social category. They are in the Jewish community are expected to be "pure" and clean. Because they were too caught up within their category, they chose to turn a blind eye and not help the man.
• "Put ourselves in the shoes of the other person" refers to the invitation of imagining ourselves in the situation of others. By doing so, we would understand them more. But Iris Maron Young argues that this suggestion can be dangerous because no one can really access the mind of the other person, no matter how familiar you are with them.
• Misunderstanding mostly come from our hasty judgements and generalizations.
• Individuals are shaped by their histories and social context.
• Things you should avoid saying if we want people to truly open up to us (Faber and Mazlish)


  • Do not say that their feelings are invalid.
  • Do not give advice if they are not asking for any
  • Do not philosophize about their situation as if you're above them and you know what happened.
  • Do not say "I know what you feel"
  • Do not say "If I were you…" unless they ask you what you would do