LEARNING TARGETS
At the end of this unit, you should be able to do the
following:
● Realize that intersubjectivity requires accepting differences and not
imposing on others.
● Appreciate the talents and acknowledge the personhood of the marginalized.
● Encourage authentic and constructive dialogue as a means to accept and
relate with others.
● Point out activities and actions that may help improve the lives of the
marginalized in society.
The advantage of humans
over other animals is our
ability to understand the
complexities of our
relationships with each
other.
Laptop Smartphone
Which one is better? Which one do you prefer?
Math Science
Which one is better? Which one do you prefer?
Rubber shoes Slippers
Which one is better? Which one do you prefer?
How can I practice my freedom of choice while
maintaining a harmonious relationship with
others?
Intersubjectivity
Intersubjectivity is the shared
meaning that people create
through constant interaction,
despite their differences. It
comes from an awareness of self
and others.
Gabriel Marcel
Gabriel Marcel is a contemporary
existentialist who believed that there are two
kinds of freedom:
● horizontal freedom
● vertical freedom
Horizontal Freedom: Freedom of Choice
Horizontal freedom is the kind of
freedom practiced when
choosing between similar goods
(where one option is not
necessarily superior to the
others).
Vertical Freedom: Fundamental Option
Vertical freedom is the kind of
freedom that allows an individual
to make choices based on the
order of his or her values, which
direct his or her moral life.
Max Scheler
Max Scheler defined values as a
set of meanings an individual
creates according to his or her
will. For Scheler, creating
meaning is an act of the heart,
and can thus be either an act of
love or an act of hate.
Emotional Act: Act of Love
In the act of love, the person
gives meaning and significance
to higher values.
Emotional Act: Act of Hate
In the act of hate or egoism, the
person gives preference to lower
values.
IMAGINE THIS
Imagine you and your friend
have opposing views on a
political or social issue. How
will you handle your
disagreement with him or
her?
Immanuel Kant
According to Immanuel Kant,
human persons are “ends in
themselves.” This means that a
person does not exist to be used
by other people. He or she is not
meant to fulfill a certain end
because simply existing is the
end in itself.
Mere Means
According to Immanuel Kant,
many people treat others as
objects, referring to them as
“mere means.” This means that
people use other people as
instruments to accomplish or
achieve something. Such
treatment denies them of their
humanity.
Examples of how people use
others as “mere means”:
● employers neglecting the well-being of
their workers and prioritizing only the
workers' output
● parents raising their children and
expecting them to repay them in the
future
● a person marrying someone because he
or she is wealthy
● a husband treating his wife as a
possession and not allowing her to
pursue her own interests
How should I appreciate other people?
A Thank-You Letter
Write a thank-you letter to
someone you know. Include the
reasons why you want to thank
him or her.
How can I live harmoniously with others?
Thomas Hobbes
According to Thomas Hobbes,
freedom is the right of an
individual to speak, think, and act
without external restriction.
However, he argued that it is
terrifying to live in a world with
absolute freedom because each
person can do whatever he or
she wants.
State of Nature
According to Thomas Hobbes,
humanity’s state of nature is a
state of war in which there is no
lawful standard of what is ethical
and unethical.
How to Resolve the State of Nature
Thomas Hobbes emphasized that
individuals must give up their
freedom to a specific authority
that will, in return, ensure their
lives are protected and
preserved.
According to John Locke, everyone in the
state is free and equal but is required to
protect one another’s rights to life,
ownership, and autonomy. With this in
mind, people choose authorities to lead
their community in the belief that the rights
of the people will be protected regardless of
their socioeconomic status, capabilities,
origins, and social groups. These protected
groups include the underprivileged and
physically challenged.
Freedom, Disputes, and Boundaries
Recall a time when your exercise
of freedom caused disagreements
within your family or group of
friends. How were the
disagreements resolved?
Write three guidelines for yourself
on how to handle disagreements
in the future.
