Intersubjectivity - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Intersubjectivity, a concept shimmering at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and anthropology, refers to the shared understanding and reciprocal awareness between two or more conscious beings. It suggests that our experience of the world is not solely individual and isolated, but profoundly shaped by our interactions and relationships with others. Often conflated with empathy or simple communication, intersubjectivity runs deeper, implying a shared cognitive and emotional landscape. Though the term gained formal currency in the 20th century, intimations of this phenomenon stretch back much further.
While a fully articulated theory of intersubjectivity awaited later development, hints appear in earlier philosophical discourse. One can arguably trace proto-intersubjective sentiment to the work of the philosopher G.W.F. Hegel, whose Phenomenology of Spirit (1807) explores the unfolding of consciousness through dialectical interaction. Hegel understood the self as developing in relation to an "Other," in a relationship of mutual recognition. These ideas were radical for their time, and provided some of the building blocks for later theories and movements.
The concept truly blossomed in the 20th century, influenced by fields such as phenomenology and psychoanalysis. Figures like Edmund Husserl, Martin Buber, and Alfred Schutz grappled with the implications of shared experience, contributing key insights into how we understand each other's intentions, emotions, and perspectives. Husserl's phenomenological investigations aimed to get down to the very bedrock of consciousness, while Buber explored how we interact with each other in his book, I and Thou. These developments reshaped how social scientists approached the study of human behavior.
Today, intersubjectivity remains a potent concept, permeating fields from psychotherapy to artificial intelligence. From attempts to understand autism spectrum disorders to designing AI systems capable of genuine social interaction, the quest to decipher the complexities of shared understanding continues. In a world seemingly fractured by increasing polarization and isolation, the concept provides a crucial reminder, and perhaps also a beacon as to how we can find reconciliation and shared meaning in this shared reality. What does the ongoing relevance of intersubjectivity ultimately suggest about the fundamental nature of human existence?