A PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION ON INTERSUBJECTIVITY IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF GABRIEL MARCEL

Abstract

This paper is a reflection on the practical utility of Gabriel Marcel's existential thought, especially in the context of the contemporary effort to advance the condition of human life in Africa. It is no gainsay that humanity seemed to have slowly acquiesced to chaos. Although the world experienced scientific and technological breakthroughs, the products of these achievements have further alienated man from his fellow. Man's dignity and identity is unremittingly threatened as nations and communities wage wars against one another. There is heightened individualism and clashes of interest as much as the 'weaponized man' have failed to reflect on the self-worth of the other. Existentially, humanity have lived in awe descending to what Marcel described as the 'broken-ness' of the world. Thus, as a departure from prevailing existentialists' accounts, Marcel had proposed intersubjectivity as the solution to the problem of human existence. In particular, this paper argues that the task of socio-political and economic revolution in today's society has a lot to benefit from a critical and pragmatic engagement with the existentialist philosophy of Marcel. The paper argues that the practical relevance of Marcel's notion of intersubjectivity appears most clearly in the value it assigns to unity of purpose, and ideas of human worth, camaraderie, doggedness, shared aims and brotherhood to resolve the growing problems of human existence. Expository and analytical methods of research were employed.