Other (philosophy)

According to Raymond Tallis, the physical gesture of pointing "points to two kinds of beyond: the otherness of the world and the presence of other minds in the world."^[1]

In philosophy, the Other is a fundamental concept referring to anyone or anything perceived as distinct or different from oneself. This distinction is crucial for understanding how individuals construct their own identities, as the encounter with "otherness" helps define the boundaries of the "self."^[2]^[3]

In phenomenology, the Other plays a particularly important role in this self-formation, acting as a kind of mirror against which the self is reflected and understood. The Other is not simply a neutral observer but an active participant in shaping the individual's self-image. This includes the idea of the "Constitutive Other," which refers to the internal relationship between a person's essential nature (personality) and their physical embodiment (body), reflecting the interplay of internal differences within the self.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Beyond this individual level, the concept of "the Other" extends to broader social and political contexts. "Otherness" describes the qualities and characteristics attributed to individuals or groups perceived as outside the dominant social norm.^[7] This can include differences based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or any other marker of social identity. The process of "Othering" or "Otherizing"^[8]^[9] involves labeling and defining individuals or groups as "the Other," often in ways that reinforce power imbalances and lead to marginalization, exclusion, and even discrimination. This act of Othering can effectively place those deemed "different" at the margins of society, denying them full participation and access to resources. Therefore, the concept of the Other is not just a philosophical abstraction but a powerful force shaping social relations and individual experiences.^[10]^[11]

^ Tallis, Raymond (1 February 2010). Michelangelo's Finger: An Exploration of Everyday Transcendence. Atlantic Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-84887-552-4.
^ The Oxford Companion to Philosophy (1995) p. 673.
^ The Other, The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, Third Edition, (1999) p. 620.
^ Hegel, G. W. F.; Miller, A. V. (1977). Hoffmeister, J. (ed.). Force and the Understanding: Appearance and the Supersensible World: Phenomenology of Spirit (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 98–9. The relation of essential nature to outward manifestation in pure change ... to infinity ... as inner difference ... [is within] its own Self.
^ Findlay, J. N.; Hegel, G. W. F.; Miller, A. V. (1977). Hoffmeister, J. (ed.). Analysis of the Text: Phenomenology of Spirit (5 ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 517–18.
^ Given, Lisa M. (2008). "Otherness". The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. pp. 588–591. doi:10.4135/9781412963909.n304. ISBN 9781412941631. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
^ "Otherness", The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, Third Edition (1999), p. 620.
^ "Otherizing and the Death of Persuasion | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
^ "With 'Otherize,' Pundits Reach Outside The Dictionary To Describe Politics". NPR. ZIMMER: Well, turning other into a verb does have a long history. Actually, it goes all the way back to the German philosopher Hegel, who wrote in the early 19th century about consciousness of the self versus the other. And by the early 20th century in English writing, you see the other being turned into a verb to describe the act of making a person or a group be excluded from a particular norm. And that's been called othering. So this otherize form has been showing up more frequently lately.
^ "Othering", The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, Third Edition (1999), p. 620.
^ Mountz, Allison. "The Other". Key Concepts in Human Geography: 328.

[1] Tallis, Raymond (1 February 2010). Michelangelo's Finger: An Exploration of Everyday Transcendence. Atlantic Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-84887-552-4.

[Philosophy_p._673-2] The Oxford Companion to Philosophy (1995) p. 673.

[3] The Other, The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, Third Edition, (1999) p. 620.

[4] Hegel, G. W. F.; Miller, A. V. (1977). Hoffmeister, J. (ed.). Force and the Understanding: Appearance and the Supersensible World: Phenomenology of Spirit (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 98–9. The relation of essential nature to outward manifestation in pure change ... to infinity ... as inner difference ... [is within] its own Self.

[5] Findlay, J. N.; Hegel, G. W. F.; Miller, A. V. (1977). Hoffmeister, J. (ed.). Analysis of the Text: Phenomenology of Spirit (5 ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 517–18.

[6] Given, Lisa M. (2008). "Otherness". The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. pp. 588–591. doi:10.4135/9781412963909.n304. ISBN 9781412941631. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.

[7] "Otherness", The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, Third Edition (1999), p. 620.

[8] "Otherizing and the Death of Persuasion | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 18 October 2023.

[9] "With 'Otherize,' Pundits Reach Outside The Dictionary To Describe Politics". NPR. ZIMMER: Well, turning other into a verb does have a long history. Actually, it goes all the way back to the German philosopher Hegel, who wrote in the early 19th century about consciousness of the self versus the other. And by the early 20th century in English writing, you see the other being turned into a verb to describe the act of making a person or a group be excluded from a particular norm. And that's been called othering. So this otherize form has been showing up more frequently lately.

[10] "Othering", The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, Third Edition (1999), p. 620.

[11] Mountz, Allison. "The Other". Key Concepts in Human Geography: 328.

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