The fundamental role of otherness in the human experience

Abstract

Though the individual self has been extensively analyzed within a varied range of disciplines and approaches, the meaning and experience of the «other» has not been analyzed to the same extent. This communication aims to argue, with the support of a significant number of theories in psychology, philosophy and sociology, as well as with diverse elements of traditional worldviews, that the role of the «other» is fundamental in human experience, with similar value to that of the self. The communication offers a classification of the ways of conceiving alterity organized in four categories of increasing relevance for human experience. Finally a tentative explanation of the reasons of the neglect of otherness is provided and some consequences of this neglect are analyzed.

Keywords: alterity, otherness, spirituality, relational ontology.