LESSON 6 (INTERSUBJECTIVITY OF HUMAN RELATIONS)

Intersubjectivity
- is the mutual understanding that emerges when people interact with one another. It helps
create meaning between individuals and enriches human connections.
-Intersubjectivity promotes empathy and inclusivity by breaking down barriers and allowing
people to connect deeply with one another.

PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF INTERSUBJECTIVITY

1. EDMUND HUSSERL (PHENOMENOLOGY)

- He is the father of phenomenology, developed this philosophical approach as a way to
explore how we experience and perceive the world.
- Husserl introduced intersubjectivity as the idea that our understanding of ourselves and the
world is deeply interconnected with others.

2. MARTIN BUBER (I-IT & I-THOU RELATIONSHIP)

- "IIT" other is treated as an object.
- "I-Thou" other is treated as a subject
- True intersubjectivity occurs in "I-Thou" moments when two people fully recognize each
other's subjectivity.

3. MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY (EMBODIMENT & INTERSUBJECTIVITY)

- Merleau-Ponty, a student of phenomenology, emphasized the role of the body in
intersubjectivity. He believed that our bodies are central to how we experience and
communicate with others.

ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

• Every person has unique perspectives, experiences, and identities. Accepting these
differences is fundamental to forming healthy, respectful relationships.

DIVERSITY
- Differences can arise from culture, beliefs, abilities, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and
more. Recognizing these differences allows us to move beyond stereotypes and assumptions.

EMPATHY
- Empathy is key to accepting differences. It involves putting oneself in another's shoes,
understanding their feelings, and acknowledging their experiences.

AUTHENTIC DIALOGUE: ACCEPTING OTHERS REGARDLESS OF

DIFFERENCES

Authentic Dialogue
- It is the practice of communicating openly and sincerely, where differences are
acknowledged, respected, and embraced.

1. Dialogue vs. Debate: Dialogue seeks to understand, while debate seeks to win.

2. Respectful Listening: Authentic dialogue requires listening without interrupting, judging,

or imposing one's own perspective.
3. Acknowledging Individuality: Valuing the individuality of the person in front of you,
even when their views challenge your own.

APPRECIATING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND UNPRIVILEGED

SECTORS OF SOCIETY
- Intersubjectivity invites us to appreciate people with disabilities and individuals from
unprivileged sectors of society. These groups often face societal barriers, making
understanding and inclusion crucial to fostering meaningful connections.

1. Social Model of Disability: Disability is not an inherent limitation but often the result of
societal barriers that restrict participation. This model encourages removing those barriers to
create inclusion.

2. Economic and Social Inequality: Unprivileged sectors face challenges like limited access
to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Recognizing these structural
challenges helps build compassion and promotes social justice.

FACES OF INTERSUBJECTIVITY

1. Stephen Hawking
- was a renowned theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author, best known for his work on
black holes and the nature of the universe.

2. Helen Keller
- Deaf and blind from a young age, Keller became an author, political activist, and lecturer.
She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and advocated for
people with disabilities.

3. Franklin D. Roosevelt
- The 32nd President of the United States was diagnosed with polio, which left him with
limited use of his legs. He led the country through the Great Depression and World War II,
shaping modern American politics.

4. Nick Vujicic
- Born without arms and legs, is a motivational speaker and author.

5. Andres Bonifacio
- Known for his contributions as a revolutionary leader, statesman, and intellectual. Despite
being disabled, he made remarkable achievements that continue to inspire many.

6. Malala Yousafzai
- Malala faced significant obstacles due to the Taliban's restrictions on girls' education. After
surviving an assassination attempt, she became a global advocate for education and women's
rights, winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

LESSON 7 (THE HUMAN PERSON IN SOCIETY)

Society - is an organized group of people whose members interact frequently and have a
common territory and culture.
• Every person contributes to the society they are part of through their actions, beliefs, and
interactions with others.

HOW INDIVIDUALS FORM SOCIETY

1. Shared values and beliefs

- These are common ideas that bind individuals together, forming the foundation of society.
- Filipino value "bayanihan" a spirit of communal unity and cooperation.

2. Social contract theory

- Suggest that people create societies to ensure mutual protection, cooperation, and to reach
common goals.

3. Culture and identity

- Includes language, customs, and traditions that create a shared identity among members of
society.

HOW SOCIETY TRANSFORMS THE INDIVIDUAL

1. Socialization Process
- How individuals learn and adopt the norms, values, and expectations of their society.

2. Influence on Identity and Behavior

- Society affects choices we make, from career paths to daily habits.

3. Social Roles and Status

- Social roles are the patterns of behavior expected of an individual based on their position
within a group or society
- Status is a social position that a person holds
- Status helps define how people see themselves.

• Society often imposes expectations on individuals based on their status

KEY PHILOSOPHERS

• Aristotle (384-322 BC)

- Humans as Social Animals: Aristotle believed that humans are naturally social beings who
find fulfillment within a community. He argued that living in society is essential for
achieving a good life, or eudaimonia.

• Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

- State of Nature and Social Contract: Hobbes imagined a pre-societal state of nature where
life was "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" due to constant conflict. He believed
humans form societies and governments to escape this condition through a social contract,
sacrificing some freedoms to gain security and order.

• John Locke (1632-1704)

- Tabula Rasa: He introduced the concept that the human mind is a blank slate (tabula rasa) at
birth, with experiences shaping one's character and beliefs. This idea highlights the role of
society in shaping individuals.
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
-Natural State vs. Society: Rousseau believed humans were noble and free in the state of
nature but became and civilization, corrupted by society

• Martin Heidegger (1889-1976)

- Being-in-the-World (Dasein)
Emphasizes that human existence is inherently social and shaped by relationships, with a
focus on living authentically by embracing one's true role rather than conforming to societal
norms. He also critiqued modern technology for alienating alienating people from meaningful
experiences and their connection to the natural world.

DIFFERENT FORMS OF SOCIETY

HUNTING AND GATHERING SOCIETY

- Characteristics: Small, nomadic groups that survive by hunting, fishing, and gathering wild
food.
- Social Organization: Generally egalitarian, as everyone's role is crucial for survival.

PASTORAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES

- Characteristics: Domesticate animals and cultivate plants; more settled than hunting
societies.
- Social Structure: More structured, family-and clan-oriented. Task are assigned according to
gender.

AGRARIAN OR AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

- Characteristics: Use farming technology to produce food surplus, supporting larger
populations.
- Social Structure: Emergence of social classes, land ownership, and often a ruling elite.

FEUDAL SOCIETY
- Characteristics: The wealth was determined by the ownership of land. Political power was
dispersed across local lords who controlled specific territories,
- Social Structure: The king owned all land, which he granted to nobles who controlled
regions, delegated land to vassals for military service. while peasants and serfs worked the
land with limited rights and freedom

INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
- Characteristics: Based on manufacturing and production. industries.
- Social Structure: Increased social mobility, urbanization, and new economic classes.

POST - INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY/INFORMATION SOCIETIES

- Characteristics: Focus on information, technology, and services rather than manufacturing.
- Social Structure: Knowledge-based roles become highly valued, with emphasis on
innovation and education.

VIRTUAL SOCIETY
- Characteristics: Defined by digital interactions, global connectivity, flexible identities, rapid
information sharing, economic activity, and community building through online platforms.
- Social Structure: Consists of administrators and moderators who manage the platforms,
content creators and influencers who shape culture, and participants who engage in
discussions, with roles often based on reputation and expertise rather than traditional
hierarchies.

HOW HUMAN RELATIONS ARE TRANSFORMED BY SOCIAL SYSTEMS

•Social Systems: Structured patterns of relationships and institutions that guide behavior and
expectations within a society.

1. NEW KNOWLEDGE
- New knowledge refers to advancements in science, education, and social awareness that
change societal norms and interactions.

2. POLICY MAKING
- Policymaking refers to the process of creating rules, laws, or guidelines that govern the
behavior of individuals, organizations, or societies.

3. ECONOMIC SPHERE
- The economic sphere transformed human relations by shifting interactions from traditional
kinship and communal bonds to market-based relationships centered on labor, trade, and
economic exchanges, often prioritizing profit and individual interests.

4. SOCIAL REALM
- Society transforms from traditional to modern through technological advancements,
economic development, urbanization, and evolving social norms that emphasize
individualism, diversity, and innovation over rigid cultural practices.

5. TECHNOLOGY
- Technology transformed human relations by enabling instant communication and global
connectivity, reshaping how people form relationships, share information, and interact across
physical and cultural

LESSON 8 (HUMAN PERSONS AS ORIENTED TOWARDS THEIR IMPENDING

DEATH)

DEATH
- is commonly understood as the end of bodily functions which signals the end of a person's
life.
- It is also refers to the separation of body and spirit.

PHILOSOPHERS VIEW ON DEATH

1. SOCRATES
- Socrates viewed death as a release of the soul from the body and believed it was not
something to fear.
- In The Apology, he suggests two possibilities for what happens after drath: either it is a
deep, peaceful sleep (nothingness) or a journey where he might encounter other souls.

2. PLATO
- Plato, a student of Socrates, expanded on his teacher's ideas in works like The Phaedo,
arguing that the soul is eternal and separate from the body.
- According to Plato, the soul existed before birth and will continue after drath, moving from
one body to another.

3. ARISTOTLE
- In Aristotle's view, death is the end of personal existence, as the soul cannot survive without
the body.
- He does not support the idea of an immortal soul.
- Some philosophies view life as preparation for an afterlife, Aristotle believed that
fulfillment is achieved through living virtuously and rationally.
- Death serves as a reminder to live a anod life, not as something to be feared or anticipated
as a gateway to another existence.

EASTERN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES

1. BUDDHISM
- Death is seen as part of a cycle of rebirth and karma. In this view, death is not an end but a
transition.

2. CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM

- View death as a passage to an afterlife. This belief gives life a sense of moral purpose, as
actions in life determine one's fate in the afterlife.

HOW SHOULD I LIVE MY LIFE BEFORE IT FINALLY ENDS?

• HAPPINESS
- often refers to a state of well-being contentment, or emotional fulfillment.

VIEWS ON WHAT CONSTITUTES HAPPINESS

1. EPICURUS: HAPPINESS AS PLEASURE

- He argued that the goal of life is to achieve pleasure and avoid suffering. However,
Epicurus emphasized intellectual pleasures and tranquility, advocating for simple living,
friendship, and wisdom rather than indulgence in physical pleasures.

2. ARISTOTLE: HAPPINESS AS FLOURISHING OR LIVING WELL

- Happiness, according to Aristotle, is the outcome of living a life that is deeply connected to
one's purpose or function in the world.

3. BUDDHISM: HAPPINESS AS INNER STATE OF MIND

- In Buddhism, happiness is seen as an inner state of mind that is cultivated through self-
discipline and harmony with the world. It is not about gaining material wealth or indulging in
external pleasures, but rather about attaining enlightenment by overcoming suffering slukkhaj
and attachment.

• SUFFERING
- Suffering is a broad term used to describe a range of painful, difficult, or unpleasant
experiences that humans can endure.

DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SUFFERING

• PHYSICAL (pain, injury, illness, or physical discomfort)
• MENTAL depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness, and grief)
• SPIRITUAL (feeling separated from God, lacking spiritual fulfillment, and sin)

VIEWS ON SUFFERING
1. Existentialism: Jean-Paul Sartre
- Existential thinkers say that life has no inherent meaning and suffering is just part of being
human. Since we know life is temporary and death is inevitable, we face suffering as a
reminder that life is short and that we need to create meaning and purpose while we're here.

2. Stoicism: Marcus Aurelius

- Stoics believe that suffering is a natural part of life and out of our control. but what we can
control is how we respond to it. Suffering can teach us uisdom, patience, and self-discipline,
which help us lead a better life, regardless of death.

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited.” - Plutarch

Prepared by:
Raiza Joy Rivera, SSLG Grade 12 Chairperson
Lizel Avi Castro, SSLG Grade 12 Representative