Beyond empathy. Phenomenological approaches to intersubjectivity

Author: Zahavi D.

Source: Journal of Consciousness Studies, Volume 8, Numbers 5-7, 2001 , pp. 151-167(17)

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Abstract:

Drawing on the work of Scheler, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Husserl and Sartre, this article presents an overview of some of the diverse approaches to intersubjectivity that can be found in the phenomenological tradition. Starting with a brief description of Scheler's criticism of the argument from analogy, the article continues by showing that the phenomenological analyses of intersubjectivity involve much more than a 'solution' to the 'traditional' problem of other minds. Intersubjectivity doesn't merely concern concrete face-to-face encounters between individuals. It is also something that is at play in simple perception, in tool-use, in emotions, drives and different types of self-awareness. Ultimately, the phenomenologists would argue that a treatment of intersubjectivity requires a simultaneous analysis of the relationship between subjectivity and world. It is not possible simply to insert intersubjectivity somewhere within an already established ontology; rather, the three regions 'self', 'others', and 'world' belong together; they reciprocally illuminate one another, and can only be understood in their interconnection.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Danish Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, Vimmelskaftet 41A, 2, DK-1161 Copenhagen K, Denmark .

Publication date: 2001-01-01