Phenomenology's Depiction of the Three-Layered Structure of Human Relationships

In this chapter, the final chapter of Part 1, adult human relationships were explained through a three-layered structure: the first stage of passive intersubjectivity formed by affective communication established in infancy, the second stage of active intersubjectivity through linguistic communication facilitating social activities, and the third stage where the most creative human activities occur. This three-layer structure integrates Martin Buber's distinction between I–Thou and I–It relationships. Affective communication at the first stage is developed during the I–Thou relationships of infancy, while the second stage, driven by linguistic communication, predominantly involves I–It relationships, within which the I–Thou relationships of adults can emerge. Thus, the realization of I–Thou relationships in the workplace necessitates three conditions: (1) the establishment of a conducive workplace environment, (2) genuine dialogue where individuals wholeheartedly engage in problem-solving through a thorough I–It relationship, and (3) understanding the establishment of workplace relationships through the interplay of affective and linguistic communication. Finally, the chapter discusses the SECI model by Ikujirō Nonaka, which utilizes Michael Polanyi's concept of tacit knowledge and highlights the incorporation of phenomenological intersubjectivity theory to promote collaborative research between spiral knowledge creation and phenomenological eidetic intuition.